Man United loaning out senior star just a week after his senior debut

Published 22:42 19 Jan 2023 GMT

Patrick McCarry

Man United loaning out senior star just a week after his senior debut

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Erik ten Hag was only praising the 21-year-old last week.

Manchester United have brought in Wout Weghorst, on loan, but the rest of their January transfer business looks set to be timid enough. Facundo Pellistri and Shola Shoretire are heading out in search of first team football. Ten Hag awarded Pellistri his senior debut, over two and a half years after he first signed for United, in a League Cup win over Charlton, last week. The Uruguayan looked lively and had an assist for a Marcus Rashford goal. "I was really happy with his performance," said the United boss. "I was happy with his performance in the World Cup, his progress is really good. He's come on and had an effect so that's the next step. I say, 'Well done, better, and keep going'." https://twitter.com/FPellistri07/status/1612952971721199617

Facundo Pellistri was signed from Penerol in 2020 but was twice loaned out to Spanish club Aalves, in order to get some senior team minutes. He made his international debut in January 2022 and featured for Uruguay at the World Cup.

"I had the luck to be at Old Trafford in other squads," Pellistri reflected after his senior debut, "but, unluckily, I didn't enter the pitch to play. I looked at the crowd and all the time I thought, 'When will my moment arrive to play?' Today was the day and I enjoyed it a lot."

Pellistri insisted he would 'fight and train hard to continue this way' with United but Erik ten Hag is conscious that he may need more senior minutes before getting reassessed in the summer. To that end, three clubs are vying for his loan signature.

The Daily Mail have linked Pellistri with loan options at Valencia and Watford, in the Championship. Meanwhile, O Globo are reporting that Brazilian club Flamengo want Pellistri on loan for the next five months. The Uruguayan would not be the only youngster on the move.

Back in February 2021, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was Manchester United manager, Shola Shoretire became the club's second youngest player in the Premier League. Shoretire was 17 yrs and 19 days when he came on as a sub in a home win over Newcastle United. The teenager, who will turn 19 in February, has made five senior appearances for United but none this season. He has joined League One promotion chasers Bolton Wanderers on loan for the rest of the season. “Coming here at 18," he reflected, "I’m transitioning into the men’s game, which is exactly what I needed. Hopefully I will have a good loan here and it will put me in a good place.” "Bolton are in a very good position right now to go for promotion. The team has been winning a lot. I have been keeping track and it’s just made me more excited to get here. I want to help the team continue to win and do as much as I possibly can to help with that."