In what has been a difficult season for Manchester United, one player who has been a consistent presence since his debut against Southampton is summer signing Manuel Ugarte.
The Uruguay international arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024 for an initial fee of £42 million, following the conclusion of a summer-long pursuit on deadline day.
However, despite a relatively assured settling-in period, the midfielder has joined the growing list of players to receive an unsettling amount of abuse in the North West.
Manuel Ugarte | Getting to grips with English football
After taking a few weeks to get up to speed, Ugarte has since settled well in English football and has adapted smoothly to his new environment and team.
The 24-year-old has added some much-needed bite to the Old Trafford midfield department and slotted in alongside Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes with minimum fuss.
Having caught the eye with his notable tackling ability, the former Sporting CP enforcer even averaged the most tackles in the division per 90 minutes at one stage this season.
Ugarte has played under head coach Ruben Amorim before in Lisbon, and he is more than familiar with the intricate 3-4-2-1 system, aiding with his integration into the side.
A selfless team player
Make no mistake, Manuel Ugarte is a player who focuses on regaining possession for his teammates, winning his duels and generally keeping things simple with his passing.
Admittedly, his distribution and build-up play is not a standout feature of his game, and this has led to some strong criticism from certain sections of the supporter base and pundits alike.
A lot of this condemnation has been unwarranted and misguided. Ugarte has a specific role to play within the team in Manchester, and he carries this out to the best of his abilities.
Furthermore, the Uruguayan is still developing, and having just turned 24, he can still grow into a more rounded player.
The combative midfielder carries the ball well and can break the lines with his ability to dribble past opponents over short distances – fitting the required profile and addressing some specific weaknesses within the team.
Whilst Ugarte needs to be a reliable passer in the engine room, it’s not his primary assignment, and other players would be tasked with offering more of a creative outlet.
Substance over style
Ugarte ranks as the second-best midfielder in Europe’s top five divisions for distance covered without the ball, averaging a relentless 16km per 90 minutes.
This perfectly illustrates where the South American strengths lie and showcases his ability to get around the pitch, hunt down opponents and put out fires.
Additionally, the holding player scored a fantastic volley against Everton in February as United battled back from a 2-0 deficit to earn an unlikely 2-2 draw in the league.
So, with a lot of harsh judgement recently bandied about, it’s important to understand what a player can bring to the table rather than bemoaning what he can not.
Ugarte has been solid in his maiden campaign in Manchester and will continue to do what he’s good at.
His best performances this season came in the white-hot atmospheres of Anfield and the Emirates in January, both games where the Red Devils excelled and matched their opponents stride for stride.
The tough-tackling midfielder is a key component in Amorim’s squad and will be keen to silence his detractors by having a strong end to what has been a good first season in England.
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