Uruguay's Penarol forward Facundo Pellistri celebrates after scoring against Chile's Colo Colo, ... [+]
Manchester United waited through the entire transfer window for a right-winger before surprisingly ending up with two on deadline day.
The only problem was neither was the one they had been expecting.
But though their high-profile pursuit of Jadon Sancho ended in failure, United were delighted to bring in 18-year-olds Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri.
The pair’s arrival has provided the club with some much needed cautious excitement to soften the disappointment of Sancho remaining in Germany.
The hope within United is in time both new signings will emerge as major players in the first team to give this window a more attractive sheen.
Amad Traore Diallo #79 of Atalanta BC in action during Atalanta BC and AC Renate - Pre-Season ... [+]
In the summer of 2003 United also missed out on their main target Ronaldinho, and had to settle for the more modest talents of David Bellion, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson and a relatively unknown 18-year-old called Cristiano Ronaldo.
There is no suggestion at Old Trafford either of Diallo or Pellistri will become another Ronaldo, but there is a quiet confidence both will soon come to be seen as shrewd pieces of business.
Diallo has been on United’s radar for over four years since they received a glowing report on him playing for Atalanta’s Under-15 side.
A succession of United scouts would make several trips to Italy to watch him as he graduated through the Italian side’s youth ranks.
Diallo earned the club’s highest rankings for academy or young developing first team players from the impressed scouts.
MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY - SEPTEMBER 29: Facundo Pellistri of Peñarol and Ronald De La Fuente of ... [+]
There was therefore little surprise when Diallo became the youngest ever player, aged 17 years and 109 days, to score on his Serie A debut in a 7-1 win against Udinese in October last year.
The Ivorian winger boasts pace, quick feet and an ability to glide past defenders that has even drawn comparisons with Lionel Messi from the Atlanta striker Papu Gomez.
Despite having appeared in the first team for only a combined 24 minutes across 3 substitute appearances United felt emboldened enough to pay a fee that could rise as high as £37 million.
Once a work permit has been issued Diallo will arrive at Old Trafford in January where he will find fellow teenage winger Pellistri.
The Uruguayan was another deadline day signing for a fee of £9.1 million after United had spent the previous three years tracking him.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United looks on ... [+]
United’s Argentinian scout first spotted Pellistri playing in Penarol’s youth teams in September 2017 and kept a close watch on him before he broke in to the first team in August last year.
Over the course of 37 first team games Pellistri quickly became recognised as one of South America’s most exciting talents and was linked with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
The former United player Diego Forlan was Pellistri’s manager at Penarol for ten months before his sacking in September this year and gave his old team-mate, the current United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a strong recommendation highlighting his ability to use both feet, beat opponents with pace and whip in dangerous crosses.
Pellistri appears more ready for first team action than Diallo, but both will now have the platform to prove this transfer window was not the disappointment it has so far been branded.
