Spending almost £4 million on a 22-year-old international player from a two-time World Cup winner does not exactly sound like a transfer masterpiece.
However, Manchester United should be happy with the overall package they have put together around Facundo Pellistri’s move to Greek giants Panathinaikos.
The Uruguayan midfielder moved to Old Trafford from local club Penarol in October 2020 for £9 million, signing a five-year contract.
Despite fans’ high hopes of a breakthrough alongside his South American junior colleague Alejandro Garnacho, Pellistri was never able to fully achieve a breakthrough at Old Trafford.
He has only started four of his 25 appearances for United, but one of those was an action-packed Champions League debut away to Bayern Munich last season.
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Pellistri further cemented his reputation during loan spells in LaLiga with Alaves and Granada, and became a permanent fixture in Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay national team.
A substitute appearance in the Community Shield against Manchester City earlier this month was his last for the Red Devils and Panathinaikos have now signed Pellistri for an initial fee of €6 million (£5.1 million/$6.6 million), with a further €2 million (£1.7 million/$2.2 million) available as an additional payment.
However, according to reports from the Manchester Evening News and BBC Sport, United have a three-year buy-back clause and would be entitled to 45% of the transfer fee should Panathinaikos sell the player.
This could add another chapter to Pellistris United’s story.
