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Summer signing Facundo Pellistri showed signs that he is further acclimating to life at Manchester United on Friday night with his first goal for the club as the U23s defeated Southampton.
First team manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had verified the Uruguayan teenager’s name on Friday afternoon while speaking to the media ahead of the weekend’s clash with West Ham.
Asked about the 18-year-old, who has been training with the first team but has not yet made his highest bow, the United manager said: “Facundo has arrived, he has trained with the first team and he has done well.
“We feel like now is the time for him to have playing time.
“And he has played a couple of games in the reserves and little by little he is adjusting well and getting more used to us.”
Hours later, Pellistri proved his coaches’ words correct in a 3-1 victory for United’s Under-23s over their Saints counterparts.
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
United led 1-0 at halftime on a spirited night at Leigh Sports Village thanks to a first-half effort from Swedish winger Anthony Elanga.
And within 30 seconds of the restart, Pellistri doubled the home team’s lead.
The former Peñarol child was paired with Shola Shoretire, who produced an outstanding pirouette midway into his own half before returning the pass, before running and finishing coolly on his right foot.
After Michael Obafemi cut the delays, Pellistri nearly scored his second hit off the crossbar before Arnau Puigmal made the safe result in injury time.
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Pellistri has been included in two Champions League teams thus far since moving to United, but he did not come off the bench against PSG or Istanbul Basaksehir.
And while some saw Solskjaer’s words on Friday as an indication that he would soon make his bow to the first team, it was more of a ‘keep going young’, as United carefully monitor his progress, not wanting to throw him into high-level matters. . too soon.
Certainly with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood, Juan Mata, Dan James and Jesse Lingard ahead of him in the battle for wide attacking roles, there is no need to rush.
But Solskjaer and the United staff will certainly be delighted with their latest step in English football.
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