Manuel Ugarte has had a difficult start to the season at Manchester United and he is likely to soon experience something he hasn’t before since joining last year.
Manuel Ugarte has yet to start a Premier League match for Manchester United this season, despite being a trusted player under Ruben Amorim during their time together at Sporting CP.
The ex-Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is battling Casemiro for a place in the starting XI, typically alongside either Bruno Fernandes or Kobbie Mainoo in the double pivot.
So far, Ugarte’s only start came in the Carabao Cup clash with Grimsby Town, and he came off after 45 minutes in that game.
The Uruguayan has featured off the bench on several occasions, including the league opener against Arsenal. In that game, he came on for Casemiro in the 65th minute but struggled to make an impact, failing to win his duels and gifting possession to Kai Havertz in a dangerous moment while playing out from the back.
Although the midfielder has shown flashes of quality in a United shirt, he is still searching for the level of performance that convinced Erik ten Hag to sanction a £50 million move for him.
Ugarte is about to experience something he hasn’t before at United
When United return to action after the international break, they will face Manchester City and that is the kind of game Ugarte could potentially thrive in.
However, due to his form and the fact that he’ll be travelling back from South America this week, it feels very unlikely that he will start the game.
If that is the case, and Ugarte is benched once again in the Premier League for the Reds, it will be the first time he’s been out of the starting XI for four league fixtures in a row for the club.
Casemiro is likely going to start the game and Bruno Fernandes or Kobbie Mainoo will partner him in the engine room. Ugarte might be able to try and make an impact off the bench but a start just doesn’t seem like it will come.
Ugarte won’t get many chances
Ugarte has openly acknowledged his slow start to the campaign but insists he is “very confident” about turning his fortunes around.
“We haven’t started the season very well,” said Ugarte to El Observador. “My level wasn’t the best either. We have to be realistic and honest.
“But I’m very confident, I have a very good relationship with the coach, I’m working well, and I’m very excited and eager to earn a starting spot.”
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However, the 25-year-old faces a difficult challenge this season, with fewer opportunities for rotation given United’s absence from European competition.
That could limit his chances to make an impression, and if his displays resemble the one against League Two side Grimsby, his long-term future at the club could be in doubt by next summer.
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