Manchester United are on the cusp of making Ugarte Man Utd‘s fifth summer transfer window signing in the form of Paris St-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte. The transfer, which includes a fee of £42.3m with a potential £8.5m in additional payments, signals a significant move for the Red Devils as they bolster their midfield. As the 23-year-old Uruguayan prepares to undergo a medical in Manchester, fans are eager to learn more about the player who is set to join the likes of Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui at Old Trafford.
The Rise of Manuel Ugarte
Manuel Ugarte’s football journey began as a striker for Uruguayan top-flight club Fenix, where he made his league debut at just 15 years and 233 days old. This made him the youngest Uruguayan league debutant in the 21st century. After being handed the captain’s armband aged 18, Ugarte caught the attention of Portuguese Primeira Liga club Famalicao, who signed him in December 2020. Eight months later, the then 20-year-old was snapped up by reigning champions Sporting Lisbon, initially as a back-up to Joao Palhinha, who would later leave for Fulham in 2022.
It was in Lisbon where Ugarte started to showcase his true potential, establishing a reputation as an athletic, tough-tackling holding midfielder under Ruben Amorim. His impressive performances attracted the interest of both Chelsea and PSG, with the French club ultimately winning the race for his signature in 2023. PSG manager Luis Enrique praised Ugarte, saying, “He is a great signing and a player with so much room for improvement going forward [and] in defense. He’s a young player with character, which is very important for us, and that continuity we need in our positional play.”
Ugarte’s Impact at PSG
Ugarte made 37 appearances for the French champions last season, including 25 in Ligue 1 and eight in the Champions League. He started all but one of PSG’s group games, demonstrating his value to the team. France-based journalist Matt Spiro, who has been following Ugarte’s progress, said, “They are signing a very tenacious midfielder, a young man who is going to be really determined having lost his way a little bit in the second half of last season at PSG. If they’re getting the player we saw in the first weeks, first couple of months at PSG, he’s going to be absolutely tremendous.”
International Experience and Style of Play
Ugarte has won 22 caps for Uruguay since making his international debut in September 2021. He was an unused substitute in their three group matches at the 2022 World Cup but was named in this summer’s Copa America team of the tournament, helping Uruguay finish third behind Colombia and winners Argentina. As a defensive midfielder, Ugarte excelled in a 3-4-3 system while at Sporting but the vast majority of his displays at PSG came as the deepest player in a midfield three. At United, he is likely to be deployed in a double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1, possibly alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
What to Expect from Ugarte at Manchester United
Given Manchester United’s vulnerability at the back last season, the signing of Ugarte should come as no surprise. The Red Devils conceded more shots in the Premier League than any other team, and Ugarte’s physicality and ability to read the game and make tackles could make him a tremendous player in the Premier League. Spiro added, “In terms of adapting to the Premier League, Ugarte’s physicality and his ability to read the game and make tackles [mean] he could be a tremendous player.”
Comparison to Casemiro
Casemiro has been the Red Devils’ go-to defensive midfielder under Ten Hag but endured a frustrating campaign last season. Ugarte’s stats from last season are impressive, with the Uruguayan recording the second-most tackles among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, averaging 4.56 per 90 minutes. He also registered 8.42 ball recoveries per game, the fourth-best tally by a midfielder in Europe’s top divisions. By comparison, Casemiro managed only 3.76 tackles and 6.03 ball recoveries per game in the Premier League in 2023-24.
Conclusion
Manchester United’s signing of Manuel Ugarte is a significant move for the club as they look to strengthen their midfield. With his impressive performances at PSG and his international experience, Ugarte could be just the player the Red Devils need to improve their defense. As he prepares to join the team, fans are eager to see how he will fit in and what impact he will have on the team’s performance.