Manchester United completed their busy summer transfer window on Deadline Day with the signing of Uruguayan defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain for £42 million, potentially rising to £50.5 million with performance-related add-ons. Let’s take a look at how Ugarte could re-shape Manchester United’s midfield and the qualities he’ll bring to a side in desperate need of something different.
Manuel Ugarte: Uruguayan Destroyer to Add Industry and Steel to Manchester United’s Ailing Midfield
Bite, Steel and Grinta
Grinta is an Italian word meaning “Grit” or “Pluck” and has seeped into worldwide football terminology to describe tenacious and energetic players. For example, the likes of Gennaro Gattuso, Dunga or, perhaps closer to home for Manchester United fans, the likes of Roy Keane or indeed Casemiro. Ugarte is another embodiment of the term, a tough-tackling, high-energy midfield destroyer whose penchant for breaking up play with tough tackling and an innate sense of positioning to cut out danger.
Although surplus to requirements in Luis Enrique’s PSG side last season, the Uruguayan still made 37 appearances in all competitions, making the most tackles in Ligue 1 (98) despite making only making 25 league appearances.
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It was at Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon where the Uruguayan initially made his name in Europe, joining in the summer of 2021 following a breakout six months with another Portuguese outfit, Familicao. During his time in the Portuguese capital, Ugarte made the most interceptions and tackles (34) in the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League group stage, eventually starring in the latter stages of the Europa League. He had an instrumental performance in the round of 16 against Arsenal as Sporting made a run to the quarter-finals, losing to Italian giants Juventus on aggregate.
Midfield Reinforcements Needed
After a shaky start to the season in which the Red Devils won one and lost two of their opening three games, including a disastrous 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford before the international break, the need for midfield reinforcements has been laid bare for Erik ten Hag’s side. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro once again showed why many observers believe him to be on the decline and unfit to start in United’s midfield, giving the ball away for two of Liverpool’s goals.
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Technically Not Great, Is Manuel Ugarte the Right Man for Manchester United?
Whilst Ugarte possesses excellent attributes off the ball, he is less known for his ability on it. Although by no means bad with a ball at his feet, the Uruguay international is quite conservative with the ball and is not the kind of midfielder to progress the ball or deliver line-breaking passes from deep.
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Watching Manchester United this season, it would seem that ball progression, Kobbie Mainoo aside, is a quality that Ten Hag’s side are lacking in the middle of the park, a deficiency ruthlessly exploited by Arne Slot’s Liverpool last weekend. Whilst Ugarte is not the solution to that problem, his energy will bring fresh impetus to the middle of the park, perhaps enabling Casemiro and Mainoo to have an impact further up the field, safe in the knowledge that the tireless workhorse will provide security behind them.
