Facundo Pellistri’s representation has openly criticised Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, over the handling of the young winger.
Pellistri, who moved to United in 2020 from Penarol for a fee of £9 million, has seen limited action on the field despite spending two seasons on loan to gain experience.
After returning to United last season, Pellistri found opportunities under Ten Hag scarce, making just 11 appearances, with a solitary start, and has yet to find the back of the net.
This season has seen a continuation of Pellistri’s struggles for game time, failing to score in 14 appearances across all competitions. With the situation remaining unchanged, Pellistri has joined Granada for the remainder of the season.
Before the move, Edgardo Lasalvia, Pellistri’s agent, voiced his concerns in an interview with Sport 890.
Speaking in Spanish and emphasising that it was his personal view, Lasalvia said: “Whether he returns to Manchester in the middle of the year will depend on the performance he shows.
“If Ten Hag continues, it’s going to be difficult. Ten Hag hasn’t used him, valued him, or treated him like a professional.”
Ten Hag, a couple of months back, pointed out Pellistri’s need to transition from a bench role to securing a spot in the starting XI, acknowledging the player’s positive impacts off the bench and expressing interest in seeing how quickly Pellistri can make this transition.
To date, Pellistri has made 24 appearances for Manchester United without scoring and has been sent on loan to Alaves twice since his arrival. His contribution to United this season includes nine Premier League appearances, with only one start.
The move to Granada, who are struggling in LaLiga, presents a new challenge for Pellistri as the team fights to escape relegation, sitting six points from safety.