Manuel Ugarte has given his green light to Galatasaray as the Turkish giant looks to strike a deal with Manchester United, according to a new report.
Expensive Mistake
INEOS are prepared to admit their mistake with Ugarte after yet another abject season in a red shirt.
Signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £50.7 million in 2024, the 25-year-old enforcer was intended to be the long-term successor to Casemiro at the heart of United’s midfield.
But a complete absence of technical quality has been horribly exposed by the physicality of Premier League football, with Ugarte unable to impose himself on matches. This leaves the Uruguay international as a liability on the ball and ineffective without it – a damning indictment on the hierarchy’s decision to invest such a sum to secure him, considering how desperate Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique was to be rid.
While there is some competition from the misfiring Joshua Zirkzee, Ugarte is comfortably the worst signing of the INEOS era.
Man United's signings under INEOS - Ratings
| Signings | Rating / 10 |
|---|---|
| Leny Yoro | 9 |
| Joshua Zirkzee | 4 |
| Matthijs de Ligt | 8 |
| Noussair Mazraoui | 8.5 |
| Manuel Ugarte | 2 |
| Ayden Heaven | 8 |
| Patrick Dorgu | 5 |
| Matheus Cunha | 8 |
| Bryan Mbeumo | 9 |
| Benjamin Sesko | 7 |
| Senne Lammens | 10 |
Cutting Losses
It’s little wonder the Red Devils are prepared to sell this summer if a suitable offer arrives for the midfielder. The plan is to sign at least two new options, with a third arriving if Ugarte’s departure is sealed.
There is interest from Italy in the Montevideo native, while a number of clubs in England are also understood to be keeping tabs. But it is Galatasaray who are leading the charge after making contact in January to assess the viability of a deal.
Turkish outlet Fanatik reveals the Süper Lig champions, who retained their title for the fourth successive year on the weekend, have “renewed negotiations” to sign Ugarte. The Lions have “begun exploring the possibility of an agreement” after the player “gave the green light” to a switch to Istanbul.
“Galatasaray officials have encountered no problems in their discussions with the 25-year-old player and are now waiting for United to determine the transfer fee. If the demand is too high, a loan deal will also be considered,” the report states.
Well-placed sources at the RAMS Stadium indicate a move for Ugarte “seems to be the closest to completion” out of the various targets Galatasaray want to sign.
Final Thoughts
United need to sell Ugarte for a minimum fee of £25 million to avoid incurring a negative PSR hit. And while Galatasaray have cash to burn, it remains to be seen whether they are willing to stump up this amount for a player so desperately out of form with no long-term future at Old Trafford.
A more likely scenario may be a loan with an obligation clause, such as the one agreed with Napoli for Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund last year that is set to pay dividends this summer. This would allow United to avoid a loss, while helping Galatasaray spread their funds more evenly.
Either way, fans will be celebrating the exit of one of the club’s worst signings in recent memory, especially if it helps funds an upgrade to arrive in his place – such as Brazilian dynamo Ederson from Atalanta.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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