The midfield let down Erik ten Hag big time last season with Casemiro’s drop-off in performance levels playing a major role behind Manchester United recording their worst-ever Premier League finish.
Ten Hag’s chaotic style often resulted in the midfield being left wide open for opposition players to counter, something Casemiro struggled to deal with.
As soon as INEOS came on board, they decided to cut loose the Brazilian in order to try and recruit his replacement but the process was far from easy.
No Saudi Pro League club came forward with a concrete bid while Brazilian clubs did not have the financial means to land the former Real Madrid superstar.
Ugarte brought in to add solidity
That meant Scott McTominay had to be moved on and in came Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. The Uruguayan was expected to add much needed bite to the middle of the park.
However, Ten Hag warned fans not to expect too much from the summer signing as he needed time to adapt to the rigours of the English game.
In games that he did play in so far, Ugarte looked solid but his minutes were expected to rise with the manager looking to utilise him more after the international break.
However, the 23-year-old suffered an injury while representing his country which might mean the Uruguayan will be out of action for sometime.
Former United star Mikel Silvestre told Tribal Football that he expects Ugarte to come good eventually but warned fans not to expect miracles from him.
The former Sporting Lisbon star needs a solid partner alongside him and until United can find that player, Ugarte’s impact might not be felt. But the Frenchman was sure that the big-money signing will be a hit in the long run.
Ugarte will be an asset for United
“I think Ugarte is a great signing. He probably cost United more than he should have, but that happens in football. Manuel needs a strong partner next to him for him to perform to the best of his ability, and he’ll need consistent game time.
“The game against Villa would have suited him perfectly because it was compact and that’s the type of game he thrives in. He loves to battle.
“Man United lack structure and compactness, they let players walk through their midfield or break the lines too easily. Manuel will be able to help stop that problem, but he won’t be able to solve all the problems by himself. However, I predict him to be a great asset for United.”
Hopefully, once Ugarte is fit, he can show his best self while INEOS can bring in adequate replacements for Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, both of whom are likely to leave in 2025.
Feature image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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