Sources: Man Utd close to agreement for exit of exciting 22-year-old

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

Granada CF are now close to reaching an agreement with Manchester United for the loan transfer of Facundo Pellistri for the rest of this term, HITC Football understands.

The 22-year-old has struggled to establish a key place in Erik ten Hag’s side at Old Trafford so far this season. Pellistri has only featured for 366 minutes through his 14 appearances in all competitions to date. He has further only started three games and has recorded an assist.

Pellistri is now set to join Granada on loan for the rest of the season and Manchester United will assess his situation again this summer. Sources have told HITC Football that the 18-cap Uruguayan is unlikely to have a long-term future at Old Trafford with his contract up in 2025.

Granada are close to securing Facundo Pellistri’s loan transfer from Manchester United

An agreement is close between Granada and Manchester United over Pellistri’s loan transfer after the Red Devils let the winger choose his next club. PSV Eindhoven also approached the Old Trafford outfit about a move. But it is believed he favoured moving to Spain at this stage.

Pellistri has previous experience in La Liga after spending 18 months on loan with Deportivo Alaves. He initially joined the Mendizorroza squad in January 2021 and returned that August for the 2021/22 season. The attacker played in 33 Spanish top-flight games over the loans.

Now, Pellistri will return to Spain with Granada close to reaching an agreement over his loan transfer from Manchester United. HITC Football had reported earlier on this month that the Red Devils would consider offers for his permanent transfer in the January window, as well.

Facundo Pellistri recorded his maiden Premier League assist this season

Pellistri did not score or lay on an assist over his La Liga appearances for Deportivo Alaves. But the Montevideo native returned to Manchester United and featured 10 times under Ten Hag in 2022/23. He also got an assist in the EFL Cup quarter-finals against Charlton Athletic.

This season so far has already seen Pellistri offer one assist through 14 games after creating Bruno Fernandes’ winner at Fulham. It was his first and only assist across 13 career Premier League outings to date. Pellistri has featured for 225 minutes in the English top-flight so far.

But Pellistri faces an uncertain long-term future at Manchester United beyond his imminent loan spell with Granada. He moved to Old Trafford in October 2020 from CA Penarol with a five-year contract. Edinson Cavani also praised what his compatriot would bring to the club.

“Pellistri is a young lad and I really love the way he plays the game,” Cavani told Manchester United’s club website in October 2020. “He’s the typical South American footballer who has that mischievous nature to his game.”