Erik ten Hag could end up doing former club FC Twente a favour this summer, by sending Facundo Pellistri to them from Manchester United.
That’s according to journalist Leon ten Voorde, who believes the relationship with Ten Hag is an ‘absolute advantage’ for the Dutch side.
He, via Soccer News, has been discussing the possibility of Pellistri making the move to the Netherlands this summer.
They explain that Twente are ‘interested in acquiring’ the Uruguayan youngster in this transfer window as they focus on adding a winger to their squad.
Pellistri is an option they are looking at after he barely featured for Manchester United last season, managing 11 appearances but just 280 minutes in total, the majority coming in the Europa League.
That’s continued a disappointing few years for him, with him managing just 751 minutes of action on loan at Alaves the year before and 1,182 the year before that.
A move away could then make sense as he needs regular playing time to continue his development, something that isn’t on offer at Old Trafford.
And Twente’s association with Manchester United boss Ten Hag, where he was assistant manager from 2006 to 2009 after spells as the U17 and U19 manager, could make that happen, at least according to ‘childhood friend (of ETH’s) and former fellow villager’ Ten Voorde.
“The priority is on the side up front,” he said.
“I have to be honest; I didn’t know Pellistri was playing at United when he filled in at the World Cup. Then I thought: hey, he doesn’t play at United very often.
“Maybe I have some connections at United to find out what kind of guy he is. Should the boy come, we will find out exactly how that happened. I don’t dare predict at this stage how likely he is to come.
“But of course, it is not a disadvantage that Ten Hag is sitting there. That is an absolute advantage. Otherwise, that boy would never have appeared on Twente’s radar, you can figure that out yourself.
“That boy won’t have thought on holiday last week either that he might end up in Enschede. It really is wait and see.”
