Image Credits: Getty Images
Facundo Pellistri is one of three United players representing their national teams at the Copa America 2024 in the United States this summer.
Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho are both representing Argentina, with Martinez starting in Argentina’s win over Canada 2-0, whilst Garnacho was on the bench, awaiting his first run out in the tournament.
Pellestri is there representing Uruguay and was handed his Copa America debut in their first match v Panama on 24th June, earning his call up after his successful loan to Granada CF beginning in February this year.
Whilst Pellestri couldn’t do enough to save Granada from being relegated, finishing last in La Liga this year, he featured in 15 games, grabbing two goals and two assists, with one of each coming in Granada’s 3-3 draw to Barcelona.
The 22-year-old was seen as vital by Granada this season and despite the results, has secured his place in the Uruguayan national team, where he already had made 19 appearances.
Pellistri’s Copa America debut, whilst not being on the ball too often, was considered to be a strong showing. Uruguay managed to win 3-1 thanks to goals from Maximiliano Araujo, Darwin Nunez, and Matias Vina, with Pellistri setting up two other goal scoring opportunities.
With 35 touches, 14 completed passes from his attempted 19, two successful tackles and two interceptions, also winning six of his ten attempted duels and winning two free-kicks, Pellistri stood out in the Uruguayan side and is expected to have done enough to be starting the next game vs Bolivia.
El Observador, the Uruguayan newspaper, reviewed Pellistri’s industrious performance, giving him a rating of 7/10, saying: “In the first half he showed the repertoire that he usually develops running up front and picking up crosses, or moving the ball diagonally towards the area. In the second period he lowered his production”.
Elsewhere, Montevideo Futbol rated Pellistri as one of the stand out performers in the squad, however did not give a player rating, commenting: “He was the great figure in Uruguay’s debut. Both in the first half and in the second, he was encouraged to constantly face the right sector, to which the Uruguayan team focused its attacks on more occasions.
The report continued: “He always surpassed the full-back Davis. He became unbalanced with his speed. Additionally, on a defensive level, he helped with important splits and recoveries. The most outstanding.”
From the qualifying games, Uruguay look to be one of the strongest teams at the tournament, and Pellestri’s performance so far will no doubt be helping the team on their way to the final.
