Manuel Ugarte’s Struggles at Manchester United and Uruguay
Manuel Ugarte, the £51 million summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain, has faced a challenging start to his Manchester United career. Recently, he expressed his discomfort with being asked to play as an emergency central defender during Uruguay’s defeat against Peru.
Ugarte’s transition to United has been less than smooth, largely due to the drawn-out nature of his transfer at the end of the summer window. This situation left him entering a struggling team that has had difficulty finding form. His performance in the recent 3-0 loss to Tottenham was particularly concerning, as he appeared lost on the pitch. However, following consecutive draws against Porto and Aston Villa, manager Erik ten Hag seems to have earned a temporary reprieve.
Ugarte hoped that returning to a familiar role would help him regain his form. However, he was again thrust into an unfamiliar position, this time under the management of Marcelo Bielsa. Asked to play as part of a three-man defense, Ugarte struggled to adapt and acknowledged afterward that he “lacked certain things as a defender.”
Reflecting on the match, Ugarte told ESPN, “It was not a good match. We did not play well. It’s a shame because I still believe we are much better, but the match was ugly for us. The dressing room was strong before the match, and the atmosphere was nice, but little by little we faded and did not show good things.”
Despite his struggles in defense, he remained confident in his ability on the ball, saying, “Honestly, I felt good with the ball, but I lack certain things as a defender. These are things that always enrich a player.”
Concerns about Ugarte’s worth in the transfer market were echoed by Dutch football legend Marco van Basten, who criticized United’s investment in the midfielder. On Ziggo Sport’s ‘Rondo’ show, Van Basten remarked, “Now also that last one, Ugarte, who cost £50 million, you think, ‘how do you even think about paying so much money for that?’ That is really bizarre.”
When pressed on his limited exposure to Ugarte, having only seen him in two matches, Van Basten was blunt: “No, but I could already see in that match that he’s not even worth a quarter of that amount.” He further lamented the overall state of United, stating that big clubs tend to acquire the best talent, while Ugarte is among the “second-rate players” who have not improved the team.
Van Basten’s comments highlight a broader concern regarding United’s recent spending, questioning the effectiveness of their recruitment strategy. “There is no star walking around who organizes it, who leads, none,” he added.
As Ugarte seeks to find his footing at United, the scrutiny of both his performances and the club’s purchasing policies continues. The pressure is on for him to adapt and prove his worth in a side desperately seeking stability and success.
