Manchester United starlet Facundo Pellistri has revealed that the arrival of Jadon Sancho led him to push for a loan move away from the club for the 2021-22 season.
After a year-long transfer saga, United finally agreed a £73m fee with Borussia Dortmund for the signing of Sancho, who has endured a difficult start to life in the first team at Old Trafford.
Pellistri returned to Alaves on loan in the summer after spending six months with the Spanish side last term, and the 19-year-old has claimed that Sancho's signing was a key factor in securing another temporary move away from the club.
Speaking to The Athletic, Pellistri said: "I felt stronger in the first team, I scored in a game at Derby for the first team. It was a very hard pre-season, the hardest I've ever had. Physically, you are really pushed, the training is such a high level.
"New players came in, including in my position [Sancho] so I thought it was a good idea to go on loan again. The best thing for a player is to play, and for a young player, to get experience."
Pellistri has made seven appearances for Alaves in La Liga this season, but he has only started one of those games, and United are supposedly considering recalling the Uruguayan attacker.
Ben Knapton
