Facundo Pellistri joins Alaves on loan from Manchester United
Manchester United have confirmed Uruguayan winger Facundo Pellistri has left Old Trafford to join Alaves on loan for the remainder of the season.
A £10m signing from Penarol during the summer, Pellistri is yet to make his debut for United, coming closest when he earned a spot on the bench for Champions League ties with Istanbul Basaksehir and Paris Saint-Germain.
✅ @FPellistri07 joins Deportivo Alavés loaned by @ManUtd until the end of this season ?#GoazenGlorioso ? pic.twitter.com/ZjZMasSJPp
— Deportivo Alavés ???? (@alaveseng) January 31, 2021
After impressing in the reserves, United accepted that Pellistri was ready for first-team football and recently began looking around for a temporary home for the 19-year-old.
Alaves quickly moved out in front of the race for his signature, and United have now confirmed on their official website that Pellistri will now spend the next six months in Spain to continue his development.
Pellistri also had an offer from Belgian side Club Brugge but is believed to have pushed for a move to Spain, having dreamed of playing in La Liga since his childhood.
United were keen to ensure Pellistri’s development was not stunted by the arrival of Ivorian winger Amad Diallo, whose £37m move to Old Trafford was finally completed earlier in January.
The 18-year-old, who has been earmarked for a spot in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first team in the near future, netting two goals on his Under-23 debut in a 6-3 win over Liverpool, one of which was a delightful Panenka penalty.
Like Pellistri, Diallo will now compete with the likes of Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Daniel James for a spot in United’s attack alongside ever-presents Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.
? FT — #MUAcademy U23s: Liverpool 3 #MUFC 6.
A scintillating performance from Neil Wood’s side included FOUR goals for Joe Hugill and two for @AmadDiallo_19. Well played, boys! ?#MUFC pic.twitter.com/LLJ0wo8tbe
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 30, 2021
United are keen for Pellestri to continue his development elsewhere in the hope that he will be ready to join the competition when he returns to Old Trafford at the end of the season.
With doubts over the long-term futures of Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Daniel James, there could be a handful of spots up for grabs in Solskjaer’s squad next season, and Pellistri will definitely have his sights set on claiming one.