Losing almost £4million on a 22-year-old international for a two-time World Cup-winning nation hardly sounds like a transfer masterstroke.
However, Manchester United are likely to be happy with the overall package they have put together around Facundo Pellistri’s switch to Greek giants Panathinaikos.
The Uruguay midfielder moved to Old Trafford from Penarol in his homeland for £9m in October 2020, when he signed a five-year contract.
Despite high hopes among the fanbase for a breakthrough to stand alongside fellow South American youngster Alejandro Garnacho, Pellistri never fully made the grade at Old Trafford.
Only four of his 25 appearances for United came from the start, although one of those was an action-packed Champions League debut away to Bayern Munich last season.
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Pellistri continued to burnish his reputation on loan spells in LaLiga with Alaves and Granada and he has become an integral part of Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay national team.
A substitute outing during the Community Shield against Manchester City earlier this month proved to be his last for the Red Devils and Panathinaikos have now signed Pellistri for an initial €6m (£5.1m/$6.6m), with a further €2m (£1.7m/$2.2m) possible in add-ons.
However, as per reports by the Manchester Evening News and BBC Sport, United have a three-year buy-back clause and will be entitled to 45% of any fee should Panathinaikos sell the player.
As such, Pellistri’s United story might yet have another chapter.
