Erik ten Hag might not have to travel far to find a solution to Manchester United’s winger shortage.
Jadon Sancho’s altercation with the Dutchman makes it doubtful that the Englishman will return anytime soon, and Antony is delaying his return to Old Trafford as he handles with claims made off the field.
Ten Hag will have to seek within for further possibilities now that the transfer window has closed.
While Alejandro Garnacho is most likely to enter the starting lineup, Facundo Pellistri might challenge the Argentine.
The 21-year-old has only played as a substitute twice for United this season, but he has established himself as an important player for Uruguay.
Pellistri also has a vocal backer in former United star Diego Forlan, who was his manager at Penarol. When the winger moved to Old Trafford, Forlan revealed he had spoken to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the United boss who bought the younsgter.
“He asked me lots of questions about Facundo and I gave him lots of answers. He’s very quick and goes past players easily. He was doing that even when it was not a good moment for the team,” Forlan told the South China Morning Post at the time.
Diego Forlan on Facu Pellistri:
Well, I know Pellistri. I was his manager at Penarol, when he was playing there, then he left for United. So of course, you’re aware [of him] and we want him to get more minutes.
“We know it’s not easy. It’s difficult. But he’s a really good… pic.twitter.com/dq58Ei90si— 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ✍🏼🇳🇱 (@TenHagBall_) August 16, 2023
Will Erik Ten Hag Play Pellistri?
Ten Hag opted to keep him at Old Trafford last season and he appeared sporadically for the Red Devils.
The highlight of his year likely came in March during his cameo against Real Betis, with a performance that delighted the United boss.
“He is the example by deserving his position by performance on the training [ground. And I said the other day, I did not select him for Liverpool and it was not even totally justified because he was training that well,” Ten Hag said.
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While this season has been another difficult one for Pellistri at club level, he has enjoyed more success at international level.
He was handed a start by new Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa in a 3-1 win over Chile on Saturday.
Pellistri is set to feature in Uruguay’s second World Cup qualifier against Ecuador on Tuesday night.
That game could give him the chance to show Ten Hag that he deserves the opportunity to help solve United’s crisis out wide.
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