A first league win since January 3rd certainly had a ‘delaying of the inevitable’ sort of vibe to it. But while his loan spell away from Old Trafford still looks destined to end in relegation, at least the Manchester United youngster seized the chance to show his old employers just how far he has come.
The £9 million man played 35 games for Deportivo Alaves from 2020 to 2022. But while he failed to produce even a single goal or assist for Babazorros, Facundo Pellistri will at least leave a few positive memories in the minds of Granada supporters.
The Manchester United-owned winger marked only his second Granada appearance by scoring one and setting up another of his side’s three goals during a thrilling draw with Barcelona at the Camp Nou in February.
And, while he did not improve upon an average of one goal contribution every three games during Sunday’s reunion with Alaves, Pellistri certainly played his part in ending Granada’s 12 game, three-and-a-half month winless run.
Pellistri also completed the full 90 minutes for the fifth time in his last seven appearances.
Manchester United still expected to sell Facundo Pellistri
Just 24 hours before which Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Eintracht Frankfurt would not take up the £13 million option-to-buy clause in Donny van de Beek’s contract, another player who does not appear to be part of Man United’s long-term plans delivered a timely boost to his own reputation, even if a long-awaited victory has come too late for a Granada side still 11 points adrift of safety with just seven games remaining.
Pellistri’s agent admitted, prior to his January return to Spain, that the former Penarol starlet would probably look to leave Old Trafford permanently if Erik ten Hag remains in the Man United dugout. Ten Hag handed Pellistri only one Premier League start in the first half of the season, after all, despite the absences of Antony and Jadon Sancho.
“Whether he returns to Manchester in the middle of the year will depend on the performance he shows (at Granada). If Ten Hag continues, it’s going to be difficult,” Edgardo Lasalvia told Sport 890.
“(Ten Hag) hasn’t used him, valued him, or treated him like a professional.”
Agent hit out at Erik ten Hag
Even if INEOS do opt to replace Ten Hag and bring in their own man in the dugout, Pellistri’s chances of a first-team role look slim. Especially with Michael Olise reportedly one of the club’s leading summer targets.
Pellistri has done better at Granada than he did at Alaves, certainly, but maybe not quite good enough.
“Penarol is the club of which I am a fan,” Pellistri tells ESPN, opening the door to a return to another of his old employers. “I am happy with Penarol’s present. As a fan, I always hope for the best.
“Thinking about the future, I am not one to plan out my career so much. But I am sure I want to return to Penarol because of the moments I lived there and because I’m a fan of the club. I don’t know when. But, one day, I would like to return.”