This past summer, Paris Saint-Germain sold Manuel Ugarte to Manchester United for a reported fixed fee of €50 million, an additional €10 million in potential add-ons, and a 10 percent sell-on clause.
Following Uruguay’s Copa América campaign, the midfielder had zero action to prepare for the 2024-25 season. Ugarte didn’t have a preseason, nor was he playing in matches, as he was absent from PSG’s bench for their first three Ligue 1 matches.
Moreover, the transfer between PSG and Manchester United was finalized on the last day of the summer transfer window. Ugarte is finally seeing action with the Red Devils, but the results are a mixed bag.
After the Premier League side drew 1-1 against Twente in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, the Manchester Evening News noted that Ugarte still needs time to adjust, and that can take weeks or even months, as he jumped on a moving training to join his new club.
“Ugarte’s performance shows there’s still a lot of work ahead,” the paper noted (h/t Le10Sports). “Ten Hag is right—Ugarte needs time, and it might take weeks, maybe even months before we see him at his best.
“United fans were hoping for a ready-made solution to their midfield problems, but that was never the case. Ugarte has the potential to be a brilliant player for United in the future, but the reality is it’ll take more than just one signing to fix their midfield.”
