Fabrizio Romano claims Manuel Ugarte’s Manchester United nightmare might end this summer. The Uruguayan midfielder has faltered since arriving at the club from Paris Saint-Germain for £40m in August 2024.
Ugarte was expected to become Casemiro’s replacement when he joined the Reds on deadline day two summers ago. He had struggled to become a regular starter at the Parc des Princes but was previously viewed as one of Europe’s most promising defensive midfielders.
The price United paid to sign the 24-year-old was met with criticism, and he has failed to live up to that price tag. His future is now uncertain amid a report from Romano claiming he could end up in Italy.
Ugarte to Serie A
Ugarte has just over three years left on his contract with the Red Devils but has lacked game time this season. He has started just seven of 18 Premier League games and has featured just three times under Michael Carrick.
Romano claimed on his YouTube channel that Ugarte could leave and that several Italian clubs are showing interest. He might be on the move despite Casemiro also departing when his contract expires in June.
The Italian journalist said:
“I would keep a close eye on Manuel Ugarte because Casemiro is leaving on a free but around Ugarte there is already some movement about clubs interested. There are clubs in Italy considering the possibility to go for Ugarte. So there is some interest from Italy.”
Romano added:
“In the January transfer window Galatasaray were interested but then nothing really concrete, nothing really advanced and so all parties decided not to proceed. But Manuel Ugarte in the summer could assess options and leave eventually Manchester United. “
If the Uruguayan is sold, it only further strengthens the need for midfield reinforcements. There has long been an expectation that a new holding midfielder will be signed to deal with Casemiro’s exit.
Midfield overhaul
Two new midfielders could be a possibility if Ugarte and Casemiro both leave. Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson are two of INEOS’ top targets.
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is another on their shortlist, while recent reports suggest Newcastle United duo Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali are of interest. How much the club are willing to spend on two midfielders will likely depend on Champions League qualification.
A Ugarte departure is probably the best solution for all parties, given how his spell at United has panned out. Fans quickly lost patience with the former PSG man, particularly unimpressed with his ability on the ball.
| Manuel Ugarte (Premier League 2025-26) | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 18 |
| Goals: | 0 |
| Assists: | 0 |
| Interceptions: | 0.9 |
| Tackles per game: | 2.3 |
| Dribbled past per game: | 0.8 |
| Ground duels won: | 3.3 (56%) |
| Aerial duels won: | 0.6 (48%) |
It will be interesting to see how much the Reds demand for the player, although it’s unlikely they will be able to recoup the money spent on him. He hasn’t adapted well to the Premier League, and perhaps a move to Serie A will help get his career back on track.
