What Diego Forlan told Facundo Pellistri before Manchester United transfer

Facundo Pellistri has revealed what Diego Forlan told him before his move to Manchester United.

Pellistri made just his second senior United start during Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The 21-year-old only made his senior debut in January but is now a permanent fixture in the first-team squad, racking up 14 appearances.

He moved to Manchester from Penarol in 2020 before two loan spells at Spanish club Alaves. He was given his first taste of senior football at Penarol, playing 10 games under Forlan.

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Pellistri recalled what impact the former United attacker had on his career prior to his switch to Old Trafford. “I remember the day I knew that he was going to be our manager, [it] was an incredible moment,” Pellistri told United club media.

“He knows a lot about football. He had an incredible career, so he taught me a lot of things. The most important thing that I remember is that after training we stayed with him, shooting [with] him all the time.

“He was advising me and other young players that were there. And that is the thing that I remember most: all the advice that he gave us. And of course, as he was one of the best players, it's very important for us young players to hear all that.

“He was one of the best. Even [after] he had retired, he was one of the best while we did all the training stuff and shooting, he was the best.”

Forlan had spoken to former teammate and then Reds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about Pellistri amid his switch to England. Pellistri recalled how Forlan gave him an insight into what to expect at United.

He added: “He told me that