What Happened to Facundo Pellistri After Leaving Manchester United?
Facundo Pellistri was once seen as a rising star at Manchester United. Signed in 2020 from Penarol at just 18 years old, many believed he had the potential to become one of the club’s standout players. After a loan spell at Deportivo Alaves, he was eventually brought into the senior squad by Erik ten Hag. Although Ten Hag wasn’t at the club when Pellistri joined, he was reportedly a strong supporter of the Uruguayan winger and gave him chances in the first team.
In fact, Ten Hag was said to prefer Pellistri over fellow young talent Amad Diallo, who spent most of his time out on loan. Pellistri, on the other hand, stayed closer to the first team. However, his time at Old Trafford didn’t deliver much — 25 appearances with just two assists.
He was later loaned to Granada and eventually sold to Greek side Panathinaikos. The move disappointed many United fans, and after a full season in Greece, things haven’t exactly gone well.
Struggles at Panathinaikos
There was hope Pellistri might thrive after leaving Old Trafford, as several former United players have done. But his first season in Greece has been mixed. He played 35 games across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing five assists — better than his numbers at United, but not the breakout many had anticipated.
A season summary graphic recently made the rounds on social media, prompting reactions from fans. Many were quick to criticize Ten Hag for favoring Pellistri over Amad Diallo, who has since emerged as a key player for United. One fan posted: “Thinking how bad Ten Hag actually was to choose him over Amad lmao.” Others echoed similar views, calling Pellistri “underwhelming” and expressing disappointment in his lack of progress.
Stats from Transfermarkt as of June 16, 2025.