Manchester United were looking for Casemiro’s long-term replacement when they set their sights on Manuel Ugarte in the summer of 2024.
A product of Uruguayan club Fenix’s academy, Ugarte first caught the eye under Ruben Amorim at Sporting.
The player’s performances prompted Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to come calling in 2023, but he was deemed surplus to requirements within a year of his arrival at the Parc des Princes.
The Red Devils sniffed out an opportunity and brought him to the Theatre of Dreams. After a slow start under Erik ten Hag, Amorim’s arrival was expected to spark Ugarte into life. Unfortunately, things have not gone according to plan.
Ugarte’s time so far at Old Trafford
Ugarte was initially signed to replace Casemiro at Old Trafford. The Brazilian had struggled to impress during the 2023/24 campaign, and United identified the 24-year-old as his eventual successor.
Ugarte, however, endured a tough debut campaign, registering two goals and six assists from 45 games in all competitions. Things have gone from bad to worse this season, as he appears to have fallen behind Casemiro in the pecking order.
Ugarte has registered seven appearances this campaign in all competitions, but only three of them were starts, with United losing all three games.
The situation has fuelled speculation over the Uruguayan’s future, and acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano has now offered some clarification on the matter.
Amorim willing to be patient
In his column for GIVEMESPORT, Romano insisted that Ugarte retains Amorim’s trust. He said: “Of course performances haven’t been always excellent, but coach and club maintain their trust in Ugarte. They hope for improvement soon.”
United’s plans to add to their midfield department in 2026 have also raised questions about Ugarte’s long-term future at the club.
However, with Casemiro already on the wrong side of 30 and out of contract in just over six months, the Red Devils may be open to retaining the Uruguayan at the club for a while longer.
Meanwhile, Ugarte has been part of a struggling squad since arriving at Old Trafford, so it would be premature to write him off just yet. The player is under contract with the Premier League giants until 2029.
Feature image Richard Pelham via Getty Images
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Deepungsu Pandit
Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
