How Marcelo Bielsa is preparing Facundo Pellistri for Manchester United opportunity

Facundo Pellistri has enjoyed just 20 minutes of first-team football at Manchester United this season but could be handed a rare chance against Brighton on Saturday.

A gap has opened up on the right side of United's front three, following confirmation that Antony will take a leave of absence to address ongoing allegations of abuse, which he denies. Jadon Sancho would normally deputise, but the very public fallout between him and Erik ten Hag leaves his place in doubt.

And so when United host Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday, they may do so with Pellistri as the only natural option on the right. Ten Hag is clearly a fan of the 21-year-old but is yet to start him in a Premier League match.

Pellistri is one of several players away on international duty and the young winger is seemingly enjoying the chance to play under the enigmatic Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa. The former Leeds boss took on the role earlier this year and looks to have the Reds youngster at the core of his plans.

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Pellistri started on Saturday evening as Uruguay beat Chile 3-1 in their first 2026 World Cup qualifier. And after full-time, he detailed his learnings under the legendary coach.

“Nahitan [Nandez] (Uruguay teammate) makes it much easier for me in terms of overflows because he is constantly overflowing and passing me," Pellistri told ESPN on Sunday. "So it makes it easier for me and I can give it to him so that he can shoot the centre.

“I take a role a little more inside. The dynamic of the team, once the ball is recovered, is to go with many players on the attack, so more than anything the ones who overwhelm the most are the full-backs.

“He [Bielsa] talks to us a lot