Man Utd’s secret is out; Facundo Pellistri’s blistering run & assist shows he’s the truth
Facundo Pellistri continues to be raved about by a small portion of Manchester United fans and is now a Uruguay regular, but is yet to truly make an impression on Erik ten Hag’s first team. But that could all change next season.
The young winger signed for the Red Devils in 2020 alongside Amad Diallo and Edinson Cavani, but has had to wait until Erik ten Hag’s debut campaign as manager to actually get his senior debut for the club.
Nothing sounds too outrageous about that on the surface, but when you dig a little deeper, it’s pretty damn surprising. The kid is good. Extremely good.
That doesn’t mean he deserves a one-way, fast-track ticket into United’s starting XI, but it does make you wonder how he’s made little more than a splash when he’s already been capped 12 times for Uruguay and continues to put together an exceptional highlight reel whenever he’s on the pitch.
On debut for United, after a few years of loan spells and terrorising opposition defenders in the Red Devils’ under-23 setup, Pellistri came off the bench to grab an assist against Charlton in the Carabao Cup.
A small handful of appearances have since followed, but the young winger is still yet to fully force the hand of Ten Hag.
But Pellistri keeps knocking. Hard. Like a door-to-door salesperson that’s desperate to hit their quota.
Despite United spending in excess of £70million on Jadon Sancho to finally solve their right flank issue, the issue largely remains unsolved. And for as long as that is the case, young Pellistri has an excellent chance of winning over his manager.
Moments like the one he created for Uruguay against Nicaragua earlier this week will undoubtedly help his cause.
This run and assist from Facundo Pellistri 🤯🔥
— United Clip (@unitedclip) June 15, 2023
Oh, come on. That’s obscene.
From pace, to technique, to vision and then the weight of pass after an all-out sprint down the field, that show of ability is tremendous.
When you consider all that and add into the mix that his name is literally Facundo Pellistri – the most football wonderkid thing you could ever muster up – it’s a marvel to think that he hasn’t yet been given a consistent run of games for United.
It’s of course very early days for Pellistri – he’s literally 21 – but if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. And if your name is good enough, you can convince just about anyone you’re a rising baller.
Alejandro Garnacho serves as the blueprint for breaking through under Ten Hag, and with United once again likely to play unfathomable amounts of football next season, there’s no reason why Pellistri can’t force his way into the conversation for good.
A smaller circle of United fans have been hot on the lad for a while, but it’s about time he was given a chance to impress on the main stage.
We’re not expecting him to force his way in during pre-season and start 30 times next season, but that regular cameo role from the bench seems tailor-made for him at this point, especially with Sancho still trying to find his flow.
The secret is well and truly out at this point. Pellistri has it, and if United don’t see it, other clubs will.
By Mitchell Wilks
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