Manuel Ugarte: Bold claim surfaces over Napoli and United man
Manuel Ugarte: Bold claim surfaces over Napoli and United man Manuel Ugarte is almost certain to leave Manchester United this summer after failing to make an impact at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are preparing for a midfield overhaul and their main target will be to sign an able replacement for Casemiro. The Brazilian’s tenure at the Theatre of Dreams is coming to an end soon, and he will leave at the end of the season as a free agent.
Casemiro has been outstanding for the Premier League giants of late and has started every game under caretaker manager Michael Carrick. United are now third in the league table and have a superb chance of securing Champions League football. However, it is imperative that they fill the void that will emerge after Casemiro departs.
Ugarte was signed in the summer of 2024 with that exact plan in mind, but it is safe to say that the Uruguayan has not lived up to expectations so far. A peripheral figure at Old Trafford Ugarte caught the eye of European bigwigs following an impressive run with Sporting. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) came calling in the summer of 2023, but the player struggled to find his feet at the Parc des Princes.
United were looking for Casemiro’s replacement in the summer of 2024 following a disappointing campaign in which he had displayed signs of regression. The 34 year old was even left out of the squad for the FA Cup final, which United won against Manchester City. The Red Devils want a long-term partner for Kobbie Mainoo, and Ugarte was identified as that man.
Unfortunately, the Uruguayan struggled to impress under former manager Erik ten Hag. Even the arrival of Ruben Amorim, who Ugarte had worked with at Sporting, failed to improve his performances. Meanwhile, Casemiro relegating him to the bench this season, further adding to his woes.