Manchester United finally got a deal over the line for Manuel Ugarte on transfer deadline day, signing the Uruguayan from Paris Saint-Germain in a reported £50.5 million deal. The club's new co-owners INEOS had spent the summer pursuing the ball-winning midfielder amid a glaring issue in Erik ten Hag's midfield.
That issue came to the surface in the Red Devils' dismal 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool (September 1). Casemiro struggled to deal with the pace of the Merseysiders, which had a knock-on effect on his midfield partner, Kobbie Mainoo. It was a day to forget for Ten Hag and his troops but one positive was Ugarte's unveiling pre-match.
Manuel Ugarte has all the tools to be Manchester United's new midfield enforcer
Ugarte, 23, is an aggressive and tenacious holding midfielder who perhaps didn't live up to expectations at PSG. He arrived from Sporting CP with a track record of dominating the middle of the park. He ranked highest for tackles in the Primera Liga in the 22/23 season (98).
PSG's glowing array of talents mean a warrior-esque profile like Ugarte has difficulty fitting into Luis Enrique's vision. It's why the Spanish coach was open to his sale but his abilities are what Manchester United have lacked for several years.
Ugarte's topsy-turvy time at the Parc des Princes still resulted in tackling numbers that blew rivals out the water. He won the most tackles in Ligue 1 last season (121) which proves his biggest strength is regaining possession.
The Red Devils' loss to Liverpool resulted from midfield vulnerabilities, with Casemiro and Mainoo often left chasing shadows. Ugarte has the energy and defensive nous to not only allow the latter to break forward but also to place less pressure on his young shoulders.
Ugarte gave United fans a glimpse of what to expect with his performance in Uruguay's 0-0 draw with Paraguay in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier (September 7). He won nine of 12 ground duels, three of four aerial duels and made five tackles.
Manchester United are next in action on Saturday (September 14) when they make the trip to St Mary's to face Southampton. It could be the first time we see Ugarte line up as Mainoo's enforcer and this might just be the turning point for Ten Hag.
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