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With Manchester United crashing out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup, the number of games were set to drastically decrease and hence, manager Erik ten Hag decided to send quite a few promising starlets out on loan in January instead of holding on to them and stagnating their development.
Hannibal Mejbri and Facundo Pellistri had got a few chances in the first half of the campaign but still looked like they were not ready for the step-up.
Amid the Dutchman’s tussle with Jadon Sancho and Antony’s poor form, there was a gaping hole on the right and the former Ajax coach turned to the Uruguayan on 14 occasions, with only three coming from the start.
The pacey right winger looked raw and thus, it was decided that a move away makes the most sense and he was loaned out to Granada in Spain.
Pellistri’s future
The 22-year-old has made nine appearances for the struggling side so far, scoring once and providing two assists with his best display coming against Barcelona.
He became the youngest player in La Liga to grab an assist and score a goal in the same game away to Barcelona since Samuel Eto’o in April 2000.
Despite being a regular for the Uruguay national team, the former Penarol youngster has not managed to breakthrough at Old Trafford and has largely spent time out on loan, initially at Alaves and now Granada.
His treatment in Manchester has not impressed his agent and there have been multiple rumours linking the winger with an exit over the course of the last few seasons.
Plenty of South American clubs remain interested in Pellistri and according to Boca Noticias, Boca Juniors are planning yet another approach for the United star in the summer.
Boca president and former Argentine legend Juan Roman Riquelme is hellbent on clinching the Copa Sudamericana in the future and in that regard, he wants to bring Pellistri to the club whose attack is currently led by another former United man.
Edinson Cavani is currently leading the line for the team from La Bombonera and the addition of his pacey compatriot could add another dimension to the Boca attack.
The report mentions Pellistri as being Riquelme’s “greatest current desire” but as of now, they are only thinking of a loan deal.
Boca want Pellistri
“If Boca shows formal interest, I am going to make the negotiations so that this (move) can happen. I believe that Boca can greatly enhance Facu, and vice versa,” the player’s agent was quoted as saying.
Pellistri’s current market value is €10 million and with United paying €8.50 million for the Uruguayan back in 2020, the feeling was that the 20-time English league champions would sell him for a large profit considering his potential and young age.
However, Boca are prepared for a permanent acquisition should United not ask for too much. It will be interesting to see how co-owners INEOS see this. They need to sell well in order to buy and are planning a summer clearout.
And a player who has only managed four starts in as many years is clearly not in the manager’s plans and an exit looks likely.
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