- Juventus monitoring Manchester United’s Ugarte
- Uruguayan continues to struggle at Old Trafford
- Serie A club’s director a long-time admirer
Juventus are reportedly monitoring Manuel Ugarte ahead of Uruguay’s upcoming fixture against Algeria, with uncertainty surrounding his future at Manchester United.
The past 17 months have been an exercise in frustration for the Uruguayan, who has struggled to reproduce the disruptive authority and positional discipline that defined his spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Sporting CP.
Signed from PSG for €50 million (£43.5m), Ugarte arrived as a structural fix—an anchor intended to stabilise United’s midfield.
Instead of shoring up the midfield, the Uruygyan has become a liability, and his market value is depreciating.
Across 68 appearances, United have won 29, drawn 17 and lost 22 with Ugarte involved—an underwhelming return of 1.53 points per game. Projected across a 38-game Premier League season, that equates to just 58 points
Ugarte’s Season on the Fringes
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus sporting director Marco Ottolini is a long-time admirer, having previously attempted to sign him from Sporting CP and also explored a loan from Manchester United last summer.
United are willing to cut their losses short on Ugarte, with the midfielder so far not living up to expectations.
In late January, The Athletic reported that Ajax made an enquiry for Manuel Ugarte. Yet despite exiting both domestic cups and carrying no European commitments, Manchester United opted against sanctioning a loan move, choosing instead to retain the midfielder.
Ugarte even pushed for a loan move away, having failed to start a single match under Michael Carrick since the shift to a 4-2-3-1 system.
The biggest obstacle preventing the Uruguayan from leaving Manchester United is his wage packet. He currently earns £120,000 per week—£6.24 million annually—figures that place him well beyond the reach of most suitors.
Clubs outside England simply will not match those demands for an underperforming midfielder, and he would have to take a cut if he were willing to move.
Who to Bring in?
If United offload Ugarte, they will funnel the transfer fee straight into the renovation of their midfield. The club are intent on elevating the profile of their midfield. From one that resembles a Toyota to a Rolls-Royce.
Targets such as Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Adam Wharton have already been discussed. A significant clear-out looms. Casemiro is already set to depart, and further exits could follow as United reshape the core of their squad.
