Manchester United have finally announced the signing of their fifth acquisition of the summer, Manuel Ugarte.
After spending almost the entirety of the window negotiating with Paris Saint-Germain, the clubs eventually made a breakthrough last week when agreeing to a £42 million fixed fee plus £4.2m in performance-based add-ons.
Manu 🤝 @ManUtd
Welcoming a new face in M16: @ManuUgarte8 📍#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 30, 2024
Scott McTominay’s departure to Napoli paved the way for Ugarte to make the move, and he has since put pen to paper on a five-year deal, which includes the option of an additional season until 2030.
United were unable to register the 23-year-old in time to feature against Liverpool on Sunday – not that he’d have played a significant role anyway, given his lack of pre-season due to his Copa America involvement with Uruguay.
As well as that, Luis Enrique had opted to leave Ugarte out of his matchday squads for PSG’s opening matches of the campaign. The club were under the impression that he would be leaving regardless, even if an agreement wasn’t reached with United.
Nevertheless, the dynamic South American now joins Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui as the Reds’ incomings. His maiden outing will presumably come after the international break when the side travels to face Southampton on September 14.
Ugarte reacts to a new chapter at Old Trafford
“It is an incredible feeling to join a club of this magnitude; one that is admired all around the world,” Ugarte told club media. “The project that the football leadership discussed with me is extremely exciting; Manchester United is an ambitious club and I am an ambitious player.
“The passion of supporters is something that is very important to me; I know how incredible United fans are and I cannot wait to experience Old Trafford. I’m someone who is so determined to succeed; I will sacrifice and give everything for my teammates. Together we will fight to win trophies and reach the level where this club needs to be.”
