(Football news) Manchester United had identified the 23-year-old as their leading midfield target, and they were able to hold their nerve in negotiations with PSG in order to sign him.
There had been talk of a potential loan deal this summer, but Scott McTominay’s move to Napoli opened the door for Manchester United to acquire Ugarte on a permanent basis.
Manchester United did not sign Ugarte in time for the midfielder to be registered against Liverpool last weekend, but it is highly unlikely that he would have featured either way due to his lack of action since representing Uruguay at the Copa America.
Indeed, due to his situation at PSG, Ugarte has not played since the middle of July, when he helped his country finish third at the Copa America with a penalty-shootout success over Canada.
Will Ugarte be involved against Southampton?
Manchester United will return to Premier League action with a clash against Southampton on September 14, and that fixture could mark Ugarte’s first appearance for the club.
Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag admitted after the Liverpool game that it could take “months” for Ugarte to get up to full speed due to his lack of a pre-season.
“With Ugarte, we have to build him into the team. It will take time, so it’s not like I’m Harry Potter. That is what you have to acknowledge. And if you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn’t play so far in the season. Not one match minute,” said Ten Hag.
“So he needs to build his fitness rate and then we have to build him in the team and I am sure he will contribute to our level and he will be an important player but that will take a couple of weeks, maybe even months.”
However, Ugarte is currently with the Uruguay squad preparing for their 2026 World Cup qualification matches against Paraguay and Venezuela.
International break will aid Ugarte’s chances of Southampton outing
The midfielder is expected to be involved in both of his country’s matches, with the first of those taking place against Paraguay on Friday night.
Ugarte needs minutes in his legs, and Ten Hag will certainly be hopeful that his new signing plays large chunks of both fixtures during the international break.
If that is the case, then he will be in an excellent position to make his debut against Southampton at St Mary’s, where Manchester United will be aiming to bounce back from successive league defeats to Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Whether Ugarte is ready to start Manchester United’s next match remains to be seen, but all of the signs are currently pointing towards a first outing against the Saints.
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