Manchester United fans have pinned their hopes on Manuel Ugarte being the man to implement a sense of stability to a currently-frenzied midfield.
However, they may be made to wait slightly longer than they’d initially hoped to see the final summer recruit in action.
After last Sunday’s dismal 3-0 defeat to Liverpool, Erik ten Hag was pressed on Ugarte’s arrival and whether he’d be featuring for the side after the international break, having not been registered in time to face the Merseyside outfit.
Yet, Ten Hag bluntly responded that it may take “a couple of weeks, maybe even months” due to the midfielder’s lack of game time since the season began in August. He added: “It will take time, so it’s not like I’m Harry Potter.”
Ugarte, who arrived on a £52.8 million move from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day, started six matches for his native Uruguay at the Copa America in July, featuring for a total of 494 minutes at the tournament as Marcelo Bielsa’s side finished third-placed.
Upon his return to Paris, he was involved in pre-season training but proceeded to be omitted from Luis Enrique’s squad when Ligue 1 got underway. PSG were of the belief that he’d be sealing a transfer before the deadline, whether that be to United or another club.
He is poised to add some minutes to the tank over the break after being called up for Uruguay’s World Cup qualifiers, after which supporters expect to see him in United’s matchday squad to take on Southampton on September 14.
Ugarte could be the final piece of the puzzle, suggests ex-Red
Former Red Wes Brown believes the 23-year-old will prove to be an integral cog at the heart of Ten Hag’s midfield. Speaking on MUTV’s The Debate, he assessed: “We missed a balance in the midfield, you could see that against Liverpool.
“He’s [Ugarte] a defensive-minded midfielder. Hopefully, he sees that [lack of balance]. He can be that guy in those spaces. He knows where he’s running, he knows where to stand, even in attack I think it’s very important.
“I think we’ve missed it for a couple of years now.”
