Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte is likely to face an extended absence after suffering a knee ligament injury in Uruguay’s World Cup defeat to Spain on Friday.

The timeframe for any absence for the 25-year-old is subject to ongoing tests to assess the severity of the injury.

In a social media post on Sunday, Ugarte said the timing of the injury “is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life”.

He added: “Hitting rock bottom will make me stronger in every sense, and I truly believe that’s the case here. Without a doubt, when life wants you to stop, it finds a way to let you know.
It’s up to me to take the positives from this.”

Ugarte was taken off the field on a stretcher at Estadio Akron, Guadalajara in the 45th minute, after appearing to land awkwardly when approaching a challenge on Spain midfielder Pedri, moments before Luis de la Fuente’s side opened the scoring.

The midfielder was visibly upset, with his hands on his head and his shirt pulled over his face as he was carried off on a stretcher from the pitch.

The 1-0 defeat to Spain saw Uruguay’s group-stage exit confirmed, finishing third in Group H with their two points rendering them one of 16 teams to exit the tournament at the first hurdle. Ugarte started in all three matches.

Since joining United from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth €50million (£43.1m; $56.9m) plus a further €10m in add-ons, Ugarte has struggled to nail down a regular spot in the starting line-up. He appeared in just six of United’s final 16 Premier League matches in the 2025-26 season, of which he started just one. He started eight league matches in the entirety of the campaign.

He has three years remaining on his contract, while the option for a further 12 months was also included in his deal.

In November 2025, United’s then-head coach Ruben Amorim said the “struggling” midfielder “must improve” but acknowledged the Premier League is a “different world” from where he had previously played, in Ligue 1 with PSG and in Portugal with Sporting CP.

United’s midfield is likely to have several incomings this summer with Casemiro leaving the club as a free agent at the end of his contract.