Facundo Pellistri reveals touching Manchester United pre-match ritual

Pre-match superstitions are commonplace among footballers and Facundo Pellistri is no different with the Manchester United youngster detailing his routine.

Pellistri has grabbed at the chance to make the right-wing spot his own in recent weeks, with his two senior competitors both absent for off-pitch issues. Antony has only just returned from Brazil after addressing allegations of abuse made against him, while Jadon Sancho has been banished from the squad after a fallout with Erik ten Hag.

The Uruguayan got a full 90 minutes under his belt for the first time this season in Tuesday's 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace and was United's main source of danger. He will be hoping to start again this afternoon and will follow his usual pre-game process to try and bring good luck.

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"I have a lot – I think every football player has them," Pellistri told United's website. "I don’t know why – you see the things you do and they're silly but they're the rituals you do before every match.

"I put my two socks together to see which one is longer, and I put the longer one on my right foot. I also send messages to my family and my girlfriend makes fun of me because I send the same messages to her every time: three heart emojis, then one more.

"And she cannot reply – if she does, I send it to her again! It's just the way that I get ready for the game."

Pellistri will hope to continue his promising form and compete with Antony for a starting place all season. The Brazilian returned to Carrington on Saturday to begin training again and will be available for Tuesday's Champions League group stage