Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has appeared to change his mind on the future of Facundo Pellistri – and is finally coming good on his promise of first-team football.
Pellistri has been on United’s books for two-and-a-half years after joining the Red Devils from Penarol but only made his first-team debut last month in the side’s EFL Cup win over Charlton.
That debut was followed up with substitute appearances in cup clashes against Reading and Nottingham Forest, alongside a Premier League debut against Leeds.
The Uruguayan did not feature under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the coach who signed him, despite being promised minutes by the Norwegian, while he was out on loan during Ralf Rangnick’s spell and found opportunities limited under Ten Hag.
He spent 18 months on loan at Spanish club Alaves, where he made 35 appearances without finding the net. However, he did impress for Uruguay at the World Cup – featuring in all three of their group-stage matches and starting twice.
Yet by that stage, he had still to make his first-team debut for United, having joined the club over two years earlier. "I think that with a good World Cup, as we think he will have, his departure is imminent," Pellistri's agent Edgardo Lasalvia told ESPN ahead of the tournament.
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Those words drew upon the player's interview with Ovacion in July, where he spoke of the importance of first-team experience: "This year is very important both at club and national team level. You have to be ready for everything and prepare well. I want to have the maximum continuity of minutes to try to arrive well.
"I'm not looking for a particular league. It's easy to say 'earn minutes' because nobody promises them to you, and you have to earn them. It's a complicated search, but I’m going to try to find the best option to play, show myself and feel good."
Yet Pellistri has now made four first-team United appearances and whilst this is far from the level of regular football that he will want, the club's ongoing participation in multiple cup competitions alongside their league pursuits ensures possibilities for more games are numerous.
Ten Hag – after overlooking the Uruguayan for selection across the first half of the campaign – has now integrated him into the matchday squads and his comments bode well for further action for the 21-year-old.
"I see a future in him," Ten Hag explained after Pellistri’s debut in the win over Charlton last month. "He is doing really well and we have to see what is the best [for him]. He is progressing. Against Everton [in a behind-closed-doors friendly], I was really happy with his performance.
"I was happy with his performance at the World Cup so his progress is really good and now he is coming on and has an effect. So that's the next step that I say: 'well done Pelli, keep going'."
In a separate interview, the manager said: "I mentioned already Pellistri came on and it was a debut. It was not long but he was really lively, some good actions and also the assist on the second goal."
