Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appear to be of one mind regarding young winger Facundo Pellistri.
Ten Hag is set to send the 20-year-old out on loan this summer and while a return to Spain is unlikely, the Uruguayan is expected to join a club in Italy or Portugal in order to help his development.
Pellistri has been with United on their pre-season tour of the southern hemisphere and opened his scoring account for the summer in the Red Devils’ 4-0 win over Liverpool in Thailand. Despite his eye-catching cameo in the friendly, it seems as though the youngster's immediate future lies away from Old Trafford.
ESPN Uruguay claims United are likely to take a different approach with Pellistri - who is yet to make his senior Red Devils debut - this season by sending him to a club in Italy or Portugal. He struggled to make an impression in Spain across two separate spells with Deportivo Alaves, failing to score a goal in any of his 35 appearances for the Basque club.
Nonetheless, Ten Hag appears to be convinced another loan is necessary as United hope to unlock the potential of a player they paid £9million for in October 2020. The Dutchman's forebear also believed loan spells were the way forward for the youngster.
Pellistri made no secret of the fact he wanted to fight for his place with the Red Devils ahead of the 2021/22 season, after his first spell with Alaves. However, Solskjaer denied him that opportunity and sent him back to the Spanish club for the campaign.
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“As you said, I went on loan to Alaves, I felt good. Now, I’m here trying my best and always pushing forward to be the best,” Pellistri said last year in-between his two stints with Alaves. “I would like to stay here but I’m still working hard, improving and will continue working.”
After scoring in United’s opening friendly of the summer against Liverpool, Pellistri was left on the bench for each of the next two friendlies, with United recording 4-1 and 3-1 wins in Australia over Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace respectively.
Ten Hag’s side, who have completed three signings so far this summer in Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez, are next in action on Saturday lunchtime, facing Premier League rivals Aston Villa in Perth.
Following three wins in as many friendlies, United will end their pre-season schedule on the following weekend with a double header of clashes against Spanish duo Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Norway and at Old Trafford respectively.
United, who will compete in the Europa League this season, begin their 2022/23 Premier League campaign on Sunday, August 7 at home to Brighton.
They are guaranteed to be in Pot 1 for the draw of the Europa League, meaning they will avoid being drawn in the same group as Italian giants Roma or Lazio, as well domestic rivals Arsenal.
