Manuel Ugarte transfer: Manchester United complete signing of Uruguay midfielder from PSG

Manchester United have finalized the transfer of Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee that could reach £50.5m.

United have handed over an upfront payment of £42 million, with the potential for the total deal to reach up to £50.7 million (£60 million) through additional payments based on the player's performance.

Ugarte was the top choice midfielder for the club during the transfer window, and United are pleased with the agreement they have reached for him.

He will not be eligible to play for Manchester United in his first match against Liverpool on Super Sunday, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

PSG initially asked for the same amount they paid Sporting Lisbon last year, £51.1m (€60m), but after discussions, both clubs reached a mutual agreement to lower the fee to ensure a successful deal.

According to Sky Sports News, Ugarte was determined to move to Old Trafford this summer and there were no issues with agreeing on personal terms during negotiations.

Please utilize the Chrome browser for a more user-friendly video player experience.

PSG and United were interested in making a long-term agreement, but they also discussed the possibility of a temporary deal with a commitment to purchase.

United had to let go of some players before making any progress with a new deal, but the departures of Facundo Pellistri to Panathinaikos and Hannibal Mejbri to Burnley opened up enough room in Erik ten Hag's team for Ugarte to join.

The player in the middle of the field had the highest number of tackles in the top division of French football last year with 98, even though he only began 21 games during the 2023/24 season.

Sunday, September 1st at 3:30pm - Game starts at 4:00pm.

United's Deal With Ugarte

Sky Sports News reporter Melissa Reddy has shared that in the world of sports journalism, it is important to have reliable sources and be able to break stories ahead of the competition.

When the new football management team at Manchester United sat down with Erik ten Hag to discuss their summer transfer plans, one of their main goals was to strengthen the midfield by finding a player to complement Kobbie Mainoo.

The desired player needed to enhance his skills to cover the young player's weaknesses. They also had to align with the team's overall strategy of improving the squad's physical attributes, providing a new style of play, and being the appropriate age - all signings under INEOS have been under the age of 26.

Importantly, choices were directed by players who had data and scouting analysis comparable to Casemiro.

Manuel Ugarte, a skilled player who caught the attention of United while playing for Sporting, really impressed. He was originally brought in as a backup for Joao Palhinha but ended up surpassing him in performance.

Ruben Amorim expressed more disappointment about Ugarte's departure, as he joined Paris Saint-Germain instead of Chelsea, than he did about losing Palhinha to Fulham, now at Bayern Munich.

Ugarte impressed United in many important areas, especially when it came to his availability. The sporting directors of European top teams see having a clean injury history as extremely valuable, and Ugarte's fitness record is flawless.

Digging deeper into his soccer skills, his ability to successfully apply pressure and counteract opponent's attacks is one of the main reasons Ten Hag is interested in him.

He is a player who excels at being aggressive and holding his position on the field. While he may not make as many long passes as Casemiro, he is better at keeping possession, carrying the ball, and changing the direction of play. Additionally, he is more reliable when it comes to recovering the ball after losing possession.

By bringing in Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, Ten Hag has strengthened his team's ability to move the ball forward effectively. He is not necessarily looking for his new midfielder to have the same ball-handling skills as Casemiro. Instead, he wants Ugarte to help improve the team's weak areas with his unique attributes.

The increased ability to move around, work ethic, and energy will enhance United's midfield.

Ugarte seems like a strong match for Mainoo because his skills in covering the ground, pressing opponents, keeping possession of the ball, and regaining possession are different from what the teenager typically does.

The player from England is better at making connections with teammates, is harder to press, and is more skilled at moving the ball forward. In essence, they have a well-rounded skill set.

Ugarte clashed with Luis Enrique's style of keeping the ball at PSG, but was scouted by top teams while playing for Sporting. His stint in Paris is seen as an exception rather than the rule.

United have found a player they think can help improve their team in many ways, and at a much cheaper price than PSG had originally asked for.

Ugarte will now need to show them that they were correct in their judgment and demonstrate that he is worth the price.