Former Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Craig Burley (Picture: ESPN)
Craig Burley has labelled one of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United signings a ‘wet blanket’ who does ‘absolutely nothing’.
From Antony to Joshua Zirzkee, Ten Hag sanctioned moves for a number of players who have underwhelmed at Old Trafford during his two-year reign.
Manuel Ugarte certainly falls into that category, with club legend Gary Neville recently declaring the Uruguayan was ‘not a Manchester United player’.
The Red Devils paid £50m to sign Ugarte from PSG in the summer of 2024 and expected the midfielder to be a key member of the squad going forward.
Ugarte featured regularly last season – making 45 appearances in all competitions – but did little to suggest he was at the level required to play for Manchester United.
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Ex-Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Burley has criticised Ugarte, calling United’s big-money signing a ‘wet blanket’.
The former Premier League star and FA Cup winner even believes Ugarte would look out of place playing ‘with the kids’ at Old Trafford.
Manchester United signed Manuel Ugarte from PSG (Picture: Getty)
‘Manuel Ugarte is just absolutely nothing,’ he said on ESPN. ‘He’s just like a wet blanket.
‘Put him in with the kids and even the kids would be going, “who the hell is this guy?” Seriously.’
Ugarte came on as a second-half substitute in Manchester United’s first two Premier League games of the season before remaining on the bench in the narrow win over Burnley.
As the summer transfer window was about to close, Old Trafford legend Neville admitted he did not think Ugarte was at the level needed to play for the club.
Erik ten Hag sanctioned United’s move for Ugarte (Picture: Getty)
Discussing another struggling midfielder in Kobbie Mainoo, Neville said on The Overlap: ‘I can’t help thinking that he [Ruben Amorim] doesn’t quite fancy him.
‘He’s never really put him it from the beginning. He’s gone with Casemiro and Fernandes but Amorim needs to sort the midfield out.
‘You can’t have that midfield. They’ve tried Mount, Fernandes, Ugarte, Casemiro but he’s changing a lot every game.’
Ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane then interjected and asked Neville whether the players he mentioned were ‘Man United players?’
Manchester United transfer target Carlos Baleba (Picture: Getty)
‘Ugarte, for me, absolutely not,’ Neville replied. ‘Mason Mount, to be fair, has done well the first two games but I’m not sure where he fits in.
‘I think Ruben Amorim really likes Mount.’
Keane then added: ‘Do you honestly think Mount’s going to get United back? I know Amorim likes him but that worries me. For me that’s a worry.’
Manchester United’s issues in the centre of the park have been well documented and the club considered signing a new midfielder in the summer.
Carlos Baleba was Ruben Amorim’s first-choice target but United baulked at Brighton’s huge transfer valuation, which stood at more than £100m.
Adam Wharton has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford but Crystal Palace were never going to sanction his departure after selling Eberechi Eze and coming close to offloading Marc Guehi.
Manchester United made a move to sign Conor Gallagher late in the window but Atletico Madrid were not interested in sending the England star out on loan.
United’s midfield will once again be put under the spotlight this weekend when Amorim takes his team to local rivals Manchester City.
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