Facundo Pellistri will know his next Manchester United step in four days

You could probably count on one hand how many players have made their World Cup debut before they’ve played a first-team game for their employers.

On one of those fingers is Facundo Pellistri and his agent isn’t happy. Edgardo Lasalvia is eager for his Uruguayan client to experience regular senior action again and can point to a debut assist in his evidence file as to why he deserves it.

The 21-year-old featured for Spanish outfit Alaves over two mild loan spells between 2021 and 2022 but only made his first United appearance this month, coming on for the last 10 minutes in the 3-0 League Cup win over Charlton. His assist didn’t go unnoticed and Erik ten Hag wants him to stay at Old Trafford.

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag has three fixtures to experiment with

In fact, his whole development has not been ignored, his manager insists. The youngster netted against Liverpool in pre-season before an ankle injury against Atletico Madrid stunted the momentum he had been building up.

Speaking after the Charlton match, Ten Hag explained why he had held off Pellistri’s debut. “He had to wait a long time for it because you have to deserve the game-time in our squad,” he said.

“There are others who also deserved it who didn’t even come on. He worked for a long time and he proved himself. He showed, in that moment, that he was ready.

“I am happy with that performance and I’m happy with his development, we brought him in [to the team] and we think he has a future here at Manchester United.” Pellistri might be happy to hear those words but he will learn the weight of them in the next two matches.

United face Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday. They are expected to field a strong side but Pellistri will hope he makes the squad and has a chance of game time.

His best shot at minutes, though, next comes on Saturday when United take on Reading in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The Royals have won just one of their last five Championship games and travel to Old Trafford on the back of a 4-0 loss to struggling Stoke.

Pellistri will be fancying his chances of earning more minutes in what could be his final shot at making an in-game impression. If he is handed such an opportunity, and it is more than a mere cameo, Pellistri and his close associates may settle to stay at United.

The player will be buoyed by the comments from his manager sees a long-term future at United for him. But he will be told that his career can only significantly progress with regular game time, which will have caused him to think about his immediate future.

“It’s clear to us that Manchester United want Facu Pellistri to stay at the club, one of the greatest in the world. However, we need him to play. There are many options in Europe for him,” agent Lasalvia recently stated.

Should Pellistri play little or no part against either Forest or Reading, then it may sway his party to push for a loan exit. The tie comes three days before the transfer window closes and the likes of Valencia and Brazilian club Flamengo have already been linked.

He will have no shortage of takers, especially given he is a World Cup player, and so 72 hours might be enough to sort out another temporary stay away. That will have to be instigated from the player’s side though, as he approaches a significant career crossroad.

Find the Footballs on the MEN website and you could win £1,000. To find out more and register to play for FREE, click here.

READ NEXT: