In focus: What Manuel Ugarte will bring to Manchester United | OneFootball

For the first time in some time, there’s an optimism around Manchester United. New investors and encouraging early transfer window movement has some suggesting better days are coming.

Optimism was much needed. Despite the silver lining of FA Cup success in 2023-24, the campaign as a whole was one of disappointment. Erik ten Hag’s team fell away in the race for Champions League football to finish eighth, the club’s lowest league finish of the Premier League era.

In Europe, things were even worse. Their Champions League campaign ended at the first hurdle, where Ten Hag’s team set a new record for the most goals conceded by a Premier League side in a single group stage (15).

Improvement was required. Joshua Zirkzee has arrived from Bologna to add competition at centre-forward, having been named Serie A’s Best Young Player last season. Leny Yoro, meanwhile, has joined from Lille with Real Madrid among the clubs beaten to the £52m signing of the teenage centre-back.

Next on the agenda was reinforcement in midfield and Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan had a mixed debut season at Paris Saint-Germain but he has the potential to be a game-changing signing for Ten Hag.

Manchester United’s porous performances were the overriding factor behind their unsatisfactory season. Only Sheffield United (17.8) – on route to a record 104 goals conceded – allowed more shots on goal per game (17.6) than the Red Devils, while only four teams posted a worse xGA figure. Solidity was in short supply.

Enter, Ugarte.

Casemiro is the current incumbent of midfield anchor role after arriving from Real Madrid in a £70m deal in 2022. A five-time Champions League winner, it was a marquee, if short-term signing. An impressive debut season helped the club to a top-three finish in the Premier League but United struggled to build on that success with Casemiro notably struggling last season.

The eye test indicated a decline in Casemiro’s performances and the stats stack up. The Brazilian saw his numbers for progressive passes and aerial duels won per game decrease, while crucially, his interceptions dropped from 1.44 per game to just 0.82.

For context, Casemiro ranked in the top 18% of Premier League midfielders for interceptions per game in 2022-23 and only in the top 54% last season. An assessment that he has lost a yard does not look harsh and, at 32, it’s unlikely to return.

Manuel Ugarte is an elite ball-winner

Ugarte’s reputation has been built as a prolific ball-winner. The South American signed for Sporting Lisbon from divisional rivals Famalicão and after a season of introduction made his presence felt in 2022-23. Joao Palhinha’s departure for Fulham left a sizeable void in the Sporting side but Ugarte emerged as a more than suitable successor.

Ugarte led Portugal’s Primeira Liga for pass completion (91.6%), tackles won (69), and dribblers tackled (66) while ranking fourth among all players for interceptions (5th). Chelsea and Liverpool were linked moves last summer before Paris Saint-Germain spent €60m (£51m) to bring the tenacious ball-winner to France.

PSG, however, were left disappointed with their investment. Ugarte started just 21 league games for the French champions last season with reservations over his limitations outside of the trademark defensive work.

No player in Ligue 1 averaged more tackles per game than Ugarte (4.57), a remarkable statistic given PSG comfortably had the highest average possession (65.7%) in France last season. Lille were next placed at 57.1%. Ugarte was also in the top 5% of Ligue 1 midfielders for interceptions per game and pass accuracy, with his fundamentals of regaining and recycling possession evident.

However, Ugarte lacks variation in possession. His numbers for progressive passes, progressive carries, attacking penalty area touches, and key passes all ranked in the 31st percentile or lower in Ligue 1 last season. He also failed to score and recorded just two league assists.

It is understood that PSG’s belief that Ugarte is one-dimensional led to their openness to his sale. The Parisians signed Joao Neves from Benfica, a player of contrasting profile, to play as a deep-lying pivot. United, however, have not been dissuaded by PSG’s willingness to dispose of the Uruguayan after just one season.

Ugarte’s effectiveness in hunting down possession is clear, a combative ball-winner who utilised alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes could plug defensive gaps and become the facilitator to a more creative cast.

Ugarte, at the very least, should make Manchester United more difficult to play against. Around Old Trafford, that would be welcome news.

Read – Ranking the five most expensive teenagers in Premier League history

See more – Osimhen to break the record? Serie A’s most expensive sales

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