Omar Berrada’s stance on one of Manchester United’s underperforming stars could define INEOS after an “unacceptable” claim was made.
Manchester United’s poor Premier League campaign keeps getting worse. Defeat to Chelsea means that the club will go without back-to-back wins in the competition for the first time.
Ruben Amorim is somehow already on thin ice and question marks will remain even if he is able to guide his team to Europa League glory next week.
While there is so many topics of conversation with speaking about United – formation, tactics, fight, desire – it all ends up coming back to the same thing which has plagued the club this last decade: recruitment.
United have spent more than many other clubs in recent years but just continue to put square pegs in round holes, or simply sign players who are nowhere near good enough.
Ugarte signing at United puts INEOS into question
During INEOS’ first summer window, five first-team players were signed for around £200 million. Leny Yoro is the only one who may be considered as a potential title-winning player in the future.
Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have been solid signings but would likely only be squad players if the Reds were to somehow turn into a top team. Joshua Zirkzee started poorly, improved significantly, but still has a lot to prove.
Meanwhile, the signing of Manuel Ugarte has cast doubt on INEOS’ recruitment strategy. Paris Saint-Germain were keen to offload him after just one season in France, and Manchester United obliged—paying around £50 million.
The Uruguayan is billed as a ball-winner, but too often he’s bypassed in midfield. Much like Fred, who departed two years ago, Ugarte looks effective when he’s chasing down opponents and making tackles—but that impact is inconsistent.
At just 23 and in his first Premier League season, some growing pains are expected. Still, there’s little evidence to justify United spending a quarter of their summer budget on him. So far, he’s looked at his best doing the kind of work Toby Collyer—a youth academy product—could arguably handle just as well.
Berrada’s stance on Ugarte will define INEOS
INEOS have to be perfect with their recruitment going forward at Old Trafford and there doesn’t seem to be huge confidence that they can do that. However, in reality, no club hits the nail on the head with every signing.
The difference with United, at least over the last decade, is that these failed signings end up playing for the club for several years. Victor Lindelöf could start the Europa League final in 2025.
Omar Berrada, INEOS’ choice as chief executive at United, must lead the club towards making strong decisions, even if it hurts them financially, like selling Ugarte this summer. Such a sale – a player leaving within a year of his arrival – would be the first since Angel Di Maria left the club, and that was partly due to his distaste for Manchester and not simply underperformance on the pitch.
At the beginning of last year, it was reported by Fabrizio Romano that Berrada feels that United players have to perform or leave the club within one or two years. It was claimed that underperforming players lasting three or more years would be deemed as “unacceptable” by the INEOS-led board.
Ugarte does not need to be sold – he is decent enough to be a squad player at Old Trafford – and some would consider it harsh, as many players need time to adapt to the Premier League. Yet, an exit like that would become a statement – that the new regime at the club are not willing to wait on mistakes.
They acted quickly on Dan Ashworth away from the pitch when they realised a mistake had been made, and the same needs to happen with the signings on the pitch. It could define the upcoming years for INEOS, and the club.
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