Manuel Ugarte’s latest confession should certainly seal his Manchester United fate.
Signed on a £50.5 million deal as the long-term Casemiro heir, the Uruguayan has, two seasons on, never shown he could be that.
Indeed, his struggles with the intensity of the Premier League have left him unable to express himself or establish authority at the centre of the park, which has consequently left United on the lookout for better defensive midfielders.
Moreover, there has been talk of Ugarte following Casemiro through the exit door, with offers of around £25 million reportedly enough to sanction his exit.
Manuel Ugarte addresses Man United future
With all eyes on who will sign him, Ugarte has gone ahead and made a confession that should, surely justify INEOS pushing him out.
“Manchester United is one of the best clubs in the world,” Ugarte said via ESPN Uruguay on his United future and the upcoming World Cup.
“The World Cup is going to be crucial in determining everything. I’m open to whatever comes. This year wasn’t great in every sense, but I learned a lot mentally, I was surrounded by good people, and I’m trying to take the positives from it.
“We’ll see what happens at the World Cup. Whatever happens, I think it will be good.
“In recent months, my focus has been 100% on the World Cup. Now it’s time to get down to business and start training to face Saudi Arabia.
“This year wasn’t my best at Manchester United, but at one point I had a realisation and said: my focus is on the World Cup. I did everything for the World Cup.”
It is deeply disappointing to hear Ugarte openly confess that, all this time while United were trying to reinvent themselves, his head was elsewhere.
No wonder head coach Michael Carrick never gave him a chance, something that was made so clear in United’s last game of the season.
Rather than handing Ugarte a start in midfield with Casemiro absent, Carrick instead opted to use Mason Mount to fill the gap left by the Brazilian’s absence against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Tonali and Ederson eyed
That said, with Ugarte primed to leave and follow Casemiro through the exit door, there is already work going on behind the scenes to replace the duo.
Notably, a deal for Atalanta’s Ederson is close, while United are also strongly pursuing Sandro Tonali.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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