Ugarte missed Sunday’s defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Simon Stone has urged Manuel Ugarte to step up against Liverpool in the final half hour as Manchester United look to secure all three points.
Manchester United had a dream start against Liverpool at Anfield as Bryan Mbeumo scored in the opening minutes to hand them the lead. While Ruben Amorim’s team managed to hold onto the lead heading into the half-time, they are feeling the full force of Liverpool’s attack in the second half.
In order to ensure the Red Devils come out with all three points, Amorim has already made some significant changes to his team. The Portuguese manager has brought on Benjamin Sesko, Manuel Ugarte and Patrick Dorgu.
BBC reporter Simon Stone was quick to comment on Ugarte’s introduction, as the former PSG player hasn’t had the desired impact since moving to Old Trafford in the summer of 2024. The Manchester United reporter feels the South American midfielder is yet to deliver a performance that could justify his £50 million price tag.
Stone has urged the 24-year-old to deliver a strong performance in the final 30 minutes of the game and help his team secure all three points. Ugarte has been preferred ahead of Kobbie Mainoo under Amorim, and he does need to back it up on the pitch.
Stone said via BBC: “Manuel Ugarte has rarely looked like a £50m player since joining Manchester United from PSG in the summer of 2024.
When Manchester United fans complain at Kobbie Mainoo not getting a chance, Ugarte is one of the players they think about.
Ugarte has a big job to do for the last half hour at Anfield. He needs to prove his doubters wrong.”
Manuel Ugarte has been underwhelmingDespite failing to establish himself at PSG, the Red Devils forked out a significant fee to add him to their squad. While they were hoping the 24-year-old could turn things around and become an important part of their project, things haven’t really worked out for him at Old Trafford so far.
A strong performance against Liverpool at Anfield could just help him get his Manchester United career back on track. Helping his team secure all three points could go a long way in justifying the price tag and the belief that Amorim has shown in him.
