August 22nd 2024.
Erik ten Hag had nothing but kind words for Facundo Pellistri, who recently departed Manchester United. The Dutch coach praised the young winger for his talent, but acknowledged that he would have had a hard time getting regular playing time this season. Pellistri's move to Greek club Panathinaikos was finalized earlier this week for a fee of £6.8m, marking the end of his four-year tenure at Old Trafford.
Pellistri joined United from Club Atlético Peñarol in 2020, but unfortunately, he was unable to break into the first team. He only made 25 appearances for the Red Devils and failed to score a single goal. With the likes of Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony all vying for a spot on the wing, it became clear that Pellistri would not have a clear path to playing time.
During his press conference on Thursday, Ten Hag explained the decision to sell Pellistri, stating, "He's a very talented player who showed a lot of progress last season. However, we have a lot of competition for the wide positions. We have to consider what is best for our squad, and unfortunately, at this moment, we had many players competing for those positions."
Pellistri did make a cameo appearance in the Community Shield earlier this month, but it was not enough to secure a permanent spot in the team. Ten Hag emphasized the importance of giving young players like Pellistri the opportunity to play and improve, and he believes that he will have that opportunity at Panathinaikos.
Another winger who may also leave the club before the end of the transfer window is Jadon Sancho. Rumors have linked him to clubs like Chelsea and Barcelona. After a falling out with Ten Hag last season, Sancho seemed to have reconciled with the coach over the summer. However, when asked about Sancho's future at the club, Ten Hag remained vague, saying, "We will have to wait and see. We have a large squad, and ideally, we want to have players who can play in multiple positions. After September 1st, we won't be able to select all the players, but we will need them throughout the season."
Ten Hag stressed the importance of having a strong squad with every player motivated to contribute. He believes that it takes a team effort to achieve success, and the squad needs to be ready to step up whenever they are called upon. United will face Brighton on Saturday as they aim to continue their perfect start to the Premier League season. Fans can stay updated on all the latest news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for the club's newsletter.
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