Manuel Ugarte’s debut at Old Trafford was unforgettable, marked by a near-miss with sprinklers during his introduction to the crowd before the match against Liverpool. The occasion was overshadowed by Manchester United’s disappointing 3-0 loss, and manager Erik ten Hag acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating that it would take time to unlock Ugarte’s potential, saying, “I’m not Harry Potter.”
Ugarte, signed for £50 million from Paris Saint-Germain just before the match, was unable to play due to a missed registration deadline. His anticipated debut is now set for September 14 against Southampton, provided he returns healthy from international duty with Uruguay.
The pressure is on Ugarte to resolve an ongoing midfield issue at United: the team’s struggle to maintain control in games. This problem has persisted since long before Ten Hag took the helm, but it has become increasingly apparent during his tenure due to his aggressive tactical style. United’s midfield has faced scrutiny, particularly in the wake of Casemiro’s struggles, who was substituted during the Liverpool match after failing to perform at the level expected.
Fans hope Ugarte will finally fill the void left in the defensive midfield role that has plagued the club for over a decade. However, expectations are high as Ugarte is expected to bring youthful vigor, athleticism, and a defensive mindset that could stabilize the team’s midfield.
Ten Hag is counting on Ugarte to help prevent opponents from dominating the midfield area, as seen with Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch during the recent match. The ideal pairing moving forward is Ugarte alongside 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who has shown promise but struggles to perform consistently due to fatigue from covering for less mobile teammates.
Historically, United’s attempts to bolster their midfield have fallen short. The last successful signing of a top-tier defensive midfielder was Owen Hargreaves in 2007, whose impact was marred by injuries. Since then, United has made several recruitment errors, signing players like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Nemanja Matic, and Casemiro—all of whom were past their prime when brought in.
Despite Ugarte’s potential to address the defensive midfield deficiencies, Ten Hag will need to tackle other issues within the squad, including defensive lapses from Lisandro Martínez and Bruno Fernandes’s tendency to leave gaps when moving forward.
While signing Ugarte is a positive move, it reflects the urgent need for improvement within the squad as he arrives under immense pressure to help the team rebound from recent struggles on the pitch.