Newcastle United are hoping to snatch Penarol wonder-kid Facundo Pellistri from under Pep Guardiola’s nose once their takeover is complete, according to AS, with Manchester City offering the forward a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Three years after the exceptional Fede Valverde left a Uruguayan giant for Real Madrid, it seems only a matter of time before another Penarol starlet is unveiled by one of the biggest clubs in European football.
Pellistri, like Valverde, is a footballer with supreme technical ability and an attitude to match. An old-school number ten who has been described as a ‘scoundrel’ and a player with rare skills by Argentine legend Juan Roman Riquelme, the fleet-footed teen has been heavily linked with Wolves but it seems there is another two Premier League clubs in the race now.
Manchester City are always on the lookout for some of the world’s brightest talents and AS claims that Pellistri has been offered a long-term deal at the Etihad, with Guardiola understandably intrigued by a player who looks tailor-made for his free-flowing attacking style.
The report adds, however, that Newcastle have not given up hope of making Pellistri one of the first signings in a bright new era at St James’ Park.
Despite being linked with some of the biggest names in the game, from Gareth Bale to Antoine Griezmann, the Magpies are expected to target gleaming rough diamonds initially, in the knowledge that Financial Fair Play could scupper any hopes they might have had of taking the transfer market by storm this summer.
Pellistri, who has a £9 million release clause in his contract, is the latest promising youngster to be linked, after Todd Cantwell, Benoit Badiashile and Max Aarons.
“Facundo Pellistri has very good potential. He has a lot to improve, he is growing and makes a difference. He has a lot of speed. We know that it will be difficult to keep him for a long time,” Penarol boss Diego Forlan told Fox.
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