Facundo Pellistri is beginning to find his feet in Greece after a tough start to life away from Old Trafford.
The Uruguayan winger joined the Red Devils in 2020 but never really got a chance to get consistent minutes in the first team.
The 23 year old only managed 25 first team appearances for the club and did not score a senior goal in that time.
He went out on loan to Alaves and Granada in Spain but eventually left the club on a permanent deal last summer when he moved to Greek side Panathinaikos F.C.
The Uruguay international made the perfect start when he scored in his side’s victory over RC Lens in the Conference League at the end of August.
Nonetheless, it has not been the easiest adaptation to Greek football as he has struggled at times to make much of an impact for his new side.
He has found regular gametime, already playing 29 times this season for Panathinaikos, more than he did in his whole United career.
Pellistri has provided four goals and four assists in all competitions for his new side as they sit third in the Greek Super League table, three points behind Anthony Martial’s AEK Athens.
The Uruguayan has found some form lately though as he scored in a 3-2 win over OFI Crete F.C at the start of the month.
He showed great goalscoring instinct to break the offside trap and slot in his side’s opener as they would go on to win the match.
It was his first strike in the Greek Super League and he will certainly hope to kick on to swell his goal contribution numbers.
He also played a key role in the victory over Martial’s AEK Athens in January and according to Uruguayan paper El Pais, the Greek crowd were so impressed with his contribution that they were “on their feet, chanting ‘Facundo Pellistri’ loud and clear, as the Uruguayan Panathinaikos midfielder left the field in the 86th minute.”
After the match the 23 year old basked in his team success and posted on X that “Athens is green” after the result.
Athens is green! keep going all together 💚@paofc_ pic.twitter.com/UIcc0nVisw
— Facu Pellistri (@FPellistri07) January 20, 2025
The former United man’s form did dip when Uruguayan manager Diego Alonso was sacked from the Greek side at the end of October but he now seems to be improving at exactly the right time as Trifýlli aim to mount an attack on the league title over the coming months.
Pellistri will most likely be next in action this evening when his side travel to Iceland to take on Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur in the last 32 of the Conference League.
Featured image Milos Bicanski via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
