Manchester United may have assumed they had seen the last of a number of players who left Old Trafford on loan this season.
But with Eintracht Frankfurt deciding against pursuing a permanent deal for Donny van de Beek, with Borussia Dortmund unlikely to finance Jadon Sancho‘s stay and with Hannibal Mejbri struggling in Sevilla, one of the first tasks facing new technical director Jason Wilcox will be to trim the fat from a very bloated squad.
At least Facundo Pellistri is set to return to Manchester United after a loan spell away from Old Trafford with his reputation enhanced.
The speedy winger has been a bright spark in a pretty dark season for Granada, scoring his second goal for the relegation-bound La Liga outfit in Sunday’s surprising 3-0 win over Osasuna.
Manchester United must make Facundo Pellistri decision
“On a personal level, scoring a goal always (helps),” Pellistri beams, speaking to Sport 890 following a victory which comes far too late to save Granada’s skin. “In these moments, when we need to win, scoring the goal that opens the game is what I stay with.”
Pellistri, a £9 million signing from Penarol in 2020, almost finds himself in a Sancho-like situation. His agent said back in the winter that a permanent departure would likely happen if Erik ten Hag stayed at Old Trafford.
But, like with Sancho, a change in the dugout could present a change of circumstances, Pellistri adding that he expects to feature during United’s pre-season preparations, potentially under a new head coach.
“I talk constantly with Manchester United,” Pellistri explains. “After each game we exchange (messages). I’m not sure what I’m going to do after La Liga ends.
“What I am clear about is that I’m going to have to do the pre-season with Manchester.”
Change in dugout could see change in circumstance
Pellistri left Old Trafford due to a lack of game time, rather than any public falling out with the new head coach. So while Sancho would have to repair a lot of the bridges he burned in the North West – he remains highly unpopular among large sections of the fanbase – many others may welcome Pellistri back, providing the 22-year-old can prove himself useful to an attack which once again struggled for fluidity during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley.
“The whole time I was in Manchester was incredible,” Pellistri told ESPN at the start of March.
“The experiences I had, I shared with the best players in the world and I was able to play many important games. Today, I am in a stage of looking for more minutes, I am very happy with the opportunity.
“Although I had minutes at Manchester United, it was not the amount I would like given the football moment I was in. I am very happy for the minutes I played here (in Spain).
“A player always wants to play. Many times one does not put oneself into the manager’s decisions, who has to think about many more things. Many times the player does not know what the coach is thinking or why he makes the decisions he makes. One has to be ready and enjoy the moments one has.”
