Coach Ruben Amorim issued a stern warning to Manuel Ugarte last month, telling him he needed to improve in training in order to rejoin the team. But that message appears to have fallen on deaf ears as he has played just 13 minutes in five Premier League games since then.
Ugarte has been on the bench in four of these five games and his career at Old Trafford appears to be in jeopardy as plans for a major overhaul of the midfield are underway. This weekend could be the Uruguayan’s last chance to reclaim his fortunes.
With Casemiro suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, Ugarte is seen as the frontrunner to fill the defensive midfield position.
If he is handed over for Koby Mainu, another player Amorim has reservations about, it could spell the end for Ugarte. If he plays and fails to impress, the results could be just as damaging.
Last month, Amorim emphasized his desire to help his former Sporting pupils overcome their difficulties, but recent events suggest this goal has not been achieved.
“I see a lot of very good players coming here and they struggle sometimes,” he said. “He is struggling now and it is our job to help him and make him feel the way I felt when I was a Sporting player. But this is a different world. He needs to adapt and improve, especially in training.”
Amorim had previously criticized Ugarte after the Europa League final, and this is the second time he has given him a harsh assessment. Despite their shared history and Ugarte’s familiarity with Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, the player has not been able to take advantage of these advantages.
After moving from Sporting to Paris Saint-Germain, Ugarte had a difficult year in Ligue 1 before moving to Manchester United for £50.5 million. His confidence appears to have taken a hit due to the difficult assignment in Paris and the tumultuous environment at Old Trafford.
Ugarte was not the man Erik ten Hag would have chosen for his position in the summer of 2024 and had a slow start at United. Amorim’s arrival sparked a brief resurgence, but there has been little evidence over the past 18 months that Ugarte is up to the task.
Especially if Mainu goes on loan, it is unlikely that he will leave in January, but if Ugarte’s form does not improve, a summer move may be on the cards.
The future of all of United’s midfielders is currently uncertain for a variety of reasons. In Ugarte’s case, it depends on his performance and what happens next largely depends on him.
He has a chance to prove himself at Villa Park on Sunday, but if he fails to do so he could be heading closer to the exit door.
