- Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte handed an escape route
- Uruygyan has failed to impress at Old Trafford
- Five clubs are interested in him
Galatasaray are reportedly pushing hard to land the signature of Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte this summer.
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 morphological 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. On too many occasions, Ugarte has been the weakest link in the team over his two seasons at the club, and United are ready to cash in.
The tempo suits him more. The Premier League demands constant intensity—top for sprints and speed, second for accelerations. The Turkish top flight sits much lower across those metrics, offering a slower, more controlled rhythm that will suit the Uruguayan more.
Financially, it also makes sense. Ugarte may not match the £120,000-a-week he earns in Manchester, but Galatasaray operate with a wage bill just shy of €100 million per year. There is still room for him to land comfortably.
Ugarte to Turkey?
According to Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk, Galatasaray have stepped up their pursuit of Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte this summer, maintaining a strong interest after coming close to a deal in January.
Bailey reports that Ugarte’s future at Old Trafford has grown increasingly uncertain, with limited opportunities under Michael Carrick opening the door to a potential exit. Three Premier League clubs have also registered tentative interest.
There remains a level of appreciation from Carrick, who values Ugarte and has enjoyed working with him. Even so, the midfielder has started to assess his options as questions build around his role in the squad.
From United’s side, there is a clear openness to a deal. The club committed £50 million to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain and handed him a significant contract, but now appears willing to move him on as they reshape the midfield.
Where else could he go?
Whilst Ugarte may not have been in form at all over the past 19 months, there are still a myriad of teams willing to take a risk on the Uruguayan.
Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Juventus have all shown their interest in the United midfielder, and there is a chance that the out-of-favour player could command a bidding war for his signature.
At just 24 years of age—turning 25 on 11 April in five days—the midfielder still has a high potential ceiling that he may hit.
It is unlikely that he will come at Old Trafford, but with years left of his playing career, there is no doubt that Ugarte can easily have a successful time playing at another side.
