Facundo Pellistri closing in on Manchester United exit?

The 21-year-old has been unable to make a consistent impact in the first team since joining from Penarol in the summer of 2020 and is being heavily linked with an imminent departure.

Pellistri spent 18 months on loan at Deportivo Alaves from January 2021 until last summer, making 35 appearances for the Spanish club but failing to bank a goal or assist.

Since returning to Old Trafford, the Uruguay international has made just one senior appearance for Erik ten Hag's side, playing six minutes of their EFL Cup quarter-final win over Charlton Athletic.

Despite being under contract at Man United until 2025, Pellistri is already being tipped to leave amid his lack of game time, and O Globo claims that Flamengo are close to sealing his signature.

The report adds that the Brazilian side will cover Pellistri's wages in full, and manager Vitor Pereira has given the green light for the attacker to link up with his squad.

Botafogo were also said to have been interested in Pellistri, but Flamengo were the only ones to meet Man United's demands, and the two sides have struck up a good relationship following Andreas Pereira's loan move back to his homeland.

Pellistri set up Marcus Rashford on his debut against Charlton, and the South American recently claimed that he was happy with life in Manchester despite his struggles for senior minutes.

"I have been waiting for this moment for a long time, and it came. Of course, I'm really happy because of the moment and the way it was, and that is incredible," Pellistri told MUTV after his debut.

"I had the luck to be at Old Trafford in other squads, but unluckily I didn't enter the pitch to play. I looked at the crowd and all the time I thought 'when will my moment arrive to play?' And today was the day and I enjoyed it a lot.

"Yes of course [I was eager to play]. I am very happy, and I want to help my teammates to achieve all the trophies that we have in mind and to win every game we have because this is an incredible club and very big."

Ten Hag, who supposedly wanted to block Pellistri's loan exit from the club, also sang the praises of the youngster, telling the press: "I see a future in him. He is doing really well and we have to see what is the best. He is progressing. Agains tEverton[in a behind-closed doors friendly], I was really happy with his performance.

"I was happy with his performance at the World Cup so his progress is really good and now he is coming on and has an effect. So that's the next step that I say: 'well done Pelli, keep going'.

"I mentioned already Pellistri came on and it was a debut. It was not long but he was really lively, some good actions and also the assist on the second goal."

Pellistri has represented Man United's Under-21s on nine occasions, registering three goals and an assist at that level, and he started two games for Uruguay at the 2022 World Cup.