Sources: Man United pulled plug on Facundo Pellistri move after deal agreed
Man United called off Facundo Pellistri’s move to Watford on deadline day, sources have told Football Insider.
The 21-year-old winger had agreed terms to join the Hornets on loan for the remainder of the season but Erik ten Hag pulled the plug on the move at the eleventh hour.
The Red Devils boss told club officials to cancel the move after deciding that the Uruguayan could have a first-team role to play in the coming months.
That is a major boost for Pellistri as well as an endorsement of what he has to offer the team.
He signed for Man United in 2020 for around £9million after impressing club scouts during his time at Uruguayan club Penarol.
But he has struggled for first-team opportunities at Old Trafford, with only three senior appearances to his name to date.
Pellistri failed to make a single appearance for the Red Devils in the 2020-21 season and was sent out on loan to Spanish outfit Deportivo Alaves in January 2021.
He made 12 La Liga appearances for Alaves during his loan stint but failed to score or assist in his 539 minutes of first-team football.
Pellistri returned to Man United in the summer of 2021 and shone during the club’s pre-season tour, but returned for a full-season loan at Alaves in the 2021-22 season.
He added 23 further appearances in his second loan stint, including 21 in La Liga, but Alaves finished the campaign bottom of the table having won just eight league games.
Pellistri again returned to Manchester for the 2022-23 season and was finally handed his senior debut by Ten Hag in January when he came off the bench during the 3-0 EFL Cup win over Charlton Athletic.
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