For some, Manchester United should never have let the summer transfer window slam shut without securing that “dynamic midfielder”. Looking at United’s midfield, some concede there are glaring weaknesses that need fixing.
A move for a dynamic option like Carlos Baleba made sense, but with the deal proving costly, United chose not to push ahead, cooling their interest in signing a midfielder.
With no midfield additions, Head Coach Ruben Amorim is now forced to work with what he has.
Amorim has turned to Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as his go-to midfield pivot. While the pairing has been functional, it has not been seamless.
Casemiro, who is not getting any younger, struggles to cover ground like he once did, leaving the engine room exposed at times.
The perfect Fernandes partner
Fernandes, whose brilliance makes him an automatic starter, might thrive with a different partner.
Amorim could turn to Kobbie Mainoo alongside Fernandes, but he’s clearly not sold on that pairing.
To the Portuguese tactician, Mainoo and Fernandes compete for the same role in his system, meaning they cannot play together.
What about pairing United’s number eight with Manuel Ugarte? Once seen as the ultimate fix for United’s midfield woes, Ugarte is now struggling to justify that tag. His performances this season have raised serious questions.
In the Premier League Summer Series, his dominant display against West Ham had many tipping him for a breakout 2025–26 campaign after a lukewarm debut season.
Yet, things have not gone as planned. Three appearances in, he has yet to leave an impact.
Ugarte has looked so off the pace that even the veteran Casemiro appears the better option despite being the one he was meant to replace after completing that £50 million switch from Parc des Princes to Old Trafford.
Can Ugarte still break into this United side and partner Fernandes?
It is a question many United fans cannot answer, especially from what they have seen so far from the 24-year-old.
Fortunately, speaking to the media back home in Uruguay, the ex-PSG man offered an honest reflection on his and United’s start to the season.
“We haven’t started the season very well,” Ugarte told El Observador. “My level wasn’t the best either. We have to be realistic and honest.
“But I’m very confident, I have a very good relationship with the coach. I work well, and I’m very excited and eager to earn a starting spot.”
United fans will appreciate his honesty and the self-awareness that he needs to raise his game. If he backs it up with hard work on the training pitch, there should still be hope.
They say, confidence is the ultimate drug, and winning is the dealer. With the South American sounding determined to prove himself at the Theatre of Dreams, this desire may fuel a turnaround in his United fortunes.
Perfect turning point
That said, Ugarte made those comments while on international duty, speaking ahead of Uruguay’s World Cup qualifiers against Peru (5 September) and Chile (10 September).
United fans will hope he plays a key role and impresses in those games. If he does, these fixtures could mark the turning point in a 2025–26 campaign that, by his own admission, has not started well.
Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images
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Daniel Onguko
Since Dan was introduced to Manchester United in 2008, he has lived and breathed the club. What started as being a fan evolved into writing about United, allowing him to feel part of their journey. Hopefully, his work might even help rekindle your love for the kings of Manchester.
