A Penarol chief has detailed the unusual way in which Manchester United went about signing Facundo Pellistri on deadline day.
According to Evaristo Gonzalez, the secretary at Penarol, the Red Devils instructed the Uruguayan club that they would not be paying the winger's release clause.
He claims United specifically told them that it is not the Old Trafford club's policy, and that instead they would give Penarol the money directly so they could "fix that problem".
Gonzalez told Uruguayan outlet Referi: "In the talks with Manchester, at one point they told me: 'due to the club's policy we don't pay for release clauses so we send the money to the club directly and you fix that problem."
Penarol vice-president Rodolfo Cantino added: "Everything was agreed, even the form of payment. There are two payments, one now and the other in July 2021, which we accept because Manchester are a front-line club."
Gonzalez claims Manchester United also made a promise to Penarol that Pellistri will be going "straight into the first team."
Cantino explained that he also knows this to be true as he enquired about taking Pellistri back on loan for the season, only for the Red Devils to say no.
"Of course we asked for it [a loan deal]," said Cantino.
"We tried in every way but they argued that they wanted the player now. It's normal, when an European club buy a player, they travel immediately."
Gonzalez added: "Pellistri goes straight to the first team. Going to play. In the negotiation they asked me if I could guarantee them if he was in the bubble because they need him. Then it will be a matter of the manager if he uses him."
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