Manchester United moved during the January transfer window to loan out players who are not currently in manager Erik ten Hag’s immediate plans. One such player was Facundo Pellistri, a winger who had only started three games in all competitions during the first half of the season.

Manchester United faced difficulties in selecting a right winger, especially after the Jadon Sancho situation and Antony’s poor form following allegations of domestic violence and assault. At 22 years old, Pellistri had only managed one assist, leading the Dutch manager to conclude that he was not yet ready to start games for the club.

With the emergence of Amad Diallo and Omari Forson and Pellistri’s rough edges, there was limited need for his services. As a result, he was loaned out to Granada in January. Several clubs were interested in signing the Uruguayan player, but Granada secured his signature and agreed to pay a loan fee to Manchester United while covering his wages in full.

Granada attempted to include an option to buy in the loan agreement, but Manchester United declined. They recognized the potential for a profitable sale if Pellistri performed well during his loan spell in Spain. Pellistri made a notable impact by scoring a goal, providing an assist against Barcelona, and registering an assist in his team’s recent loss to Real Sociedad.

It is expected that Manchester United will look to sell Pellistri in the summer, especially considering his agent’s dissatisfaction with Ten Hag’s treatment of the young forward. Pellistri himself remains a fan of his former club, Peñarol, and expressed his desire to return to the Estadio Campeón del Siglo one day.

Manchester United initially paid €8.50 million for Pellistri in 2020 and will likely demand a higher fee for his transfer. The future remains uncertain as to which team will come forward and meet Manchester United’s asking price. Granada, currently facing the possibility of relegation, is unlikely to be in a position to do so, as they sit 19th in the league and eight points away from safety with 11 games remaining.