Manchester United Rejected Peñarol's Request to Loan Back Facundo Pellistri

Peñarol vice-president Rodolfo Cantino has revealed that Manchester United rejected their request to loan new signing Facundo Pellistri back until January, in a clear indication that he has an immediate role to play at Old Trafford.

United had kept tabs on the Uruguayan winger all summer, but stepped up their advances on deadline day when it became clear deals for Jadon Sancho and Ousmane Dembele would not get off the ground. But while an 18-year-old signed for £8m might fly under the radar compared to the other names linked with the club, it seems Pellistri he is viewed as a genuine alternative to their main targets.

When asked by Uruguayan outlet El Observador if Peñarol attempted to keep him at the club until the January window, Cantino said: “Of course we asked for it. We tried in every way but they argued that they wanted the player now.

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Llegó el momento de despedirme. De decirle adiós a un club que significa mucho para mí. Me acuerdo como si fuese ayer el primer día que llegué a Peñarol, allá por el 2014. Comenzaba una etapa nueva de mi vida, sin saber todo lo que estaba por venir. Viví una etapa en Formativas inolvidable, junto a una generación 2001 que siempre recordaré. De Formativas, me llevo el recuerdo de un Campeonato Uruguayo en donde fuimos campeones, un clásico inolvidable en el Centenario, viajes únicos a Alegrete, con tan solo 13 años, y a China, en mi último año compartido junto al plantel. Pero sobre todas las cosas, me llevo el recuerdo del gran grupo humano que conocí. Compañeros, técnicos y funcionarios. Grandes personas, sencillas y humildes, junto a quienes viví muchas anécdotas inolvidables. Tiempo después me llegó la posibilidad de debutar en Primera División. Una etapa totalmente diferente a la que había vivido hasta ese entonces. Una etapa con muy lindos recuerdos, en la cual creé nuevas amistades y conocí a ídolos que de chico los miraba por televisión. Realmente fue un sueño compartir vestuario con ellos. Jugar en el Campeón del Siglo fue para mí un privilegio y uno de los más lindos recuerdos que me llevo. Le quiero dar las gracias a ustedes. Por cada palabra de apoyo y aliento que me han brindado. A los funcionarios del club, desde los que me acompañaron en AUFI hasta Primera, por siempre estar a disposición. Fue un placer haber vestido estos colores. Gracias por todo, y hasta la vuelta @oficialcap! ??

A post shared by facundo?? (@facu_pellistri) on Oct 5, 2020 at 7:32pm PDT

"It’s normal, when an European club buy a player, they travel immediately.”

Club secretary Evaristo Gonzalez, meanwhile, further added to the belief that Pellistri is not joining to make up the numbers. He claims he will go straight into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first-team squad upon arriving in England.

"Pellistri goes straight to the first team," he said. "Going to play. In the negotiation they asked me if I could guarantee them if he was in the bubble because they need him. Then it will be a matter of the manager if he uses him”.

Facundo Pellistri becomes Manchester United's second Uruguayan signing of deadline day. ??
— 90min (@90min_Football) October 5, 2020

Pellistri will wear the number 28 shirt at United, and told the club website upon arriving: “To join a club with the history of Manchester United is a dream come true. I have learnt a lot at Penarol and I would like to thank them for everything they have done for me. To have the confidence of the manager is an amazing feeling and I know that working with him will be perfect for my development.

“I am coming into a squad full of great players who I will learn from every day. Everyone knows that Manchester United is a club that gives young players an opportunity and I am ready to work hard every day to earn those chances and prove myself in England.”