{"id":410950,"date":"2025-09-09T17:08:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T17:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/410950\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T17:08:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T17:08:12","slug":"man-utd-star-branded-a-50m-wet-blanket-who-does-nothing-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/410950\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd star branded a \u00a350m ‘wet blanket’ who does ‘nothing’ | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\tFormer Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Craig Burley (Picture: ESPN)<\/p>\n

Craig Burley has labelled one of Erik ten Hag\u2019s Manchester United<\/a> signings a \u2018wet blanket\u2019 who does \u2018absolutely nothing\u2019.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Manuel Ugarte certainly falls into that category, with club legend Gary Neville recently declaring the Uruguayan\u00a0was \u2018not a Manchester United player\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Red Devils paid \u00a350m to sign Ugarte from PSG in the summer of 2024<\/a> and expected the midfielder to be a key member of the squad going forward.<\/p>\n

Ugarte featured regularly last season \u2013 making 45 appearances in all competitions \u2013 but did little to suggest he was at the level required to play for Manchester United<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Metro’s football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday \u2013 sign up<\/a>, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n

Ex-Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Burley has criticised Ugarte, calling United\u2019s big-money signing a \u2018wet blanket\u2019.<\/p>\n

The former Premier League star and FA Cup winner even believes Ugarte would look out of place playing \u2018with the kids\u2019 at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Manchester
\n\t\tManchester United signed Manuel Ugarte from PSG (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018Manuel Ugarte is just absolutely nothing,\u2019 he said on ESPN<\/a>. \u2018He\u2019s just like a wet blanket.<\/p>\n

\u2018Put him in with the kids and even the kids would be going, \u201cwho the hell is this guy?\u201d Seriously.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ugarte came on as a second-half substitute in Manchester United\u2019s first two Premier League games of the season before remaining on the bench in the narrow win over Burnley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Manchester
\n\t\tErik ten Hag sanctioned United\u2019s move for Ugarte (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Discussing another struggling midfielder in Kobbie Mainoo, Neville said on The Overlap<\/a>: \u2018I can\u2019t help thinking that he [Ruben Amorim] doesn\u2019t quite fancy him.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s never really put him it from the beginning. He\u2019s gone with Casemiro and Fernandes but Amorim needs to sort the midfield out.<\/p>\n

\u2018You can\u2019t have that midfield. They\u2019ve tried Mount, Fernandes, Ugarte, Casemiro but he\u2019s changing a lot every game.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane then interjected and asked Neville whether the players he mentioned were \u2018Man United players?\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Brighton
\n\t\tManchester United transfer target Carlos Baleba (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018Ugarte, for me, absolutely not,\u2019 Neville replied. \u2018Mason Mount, to be fair, has done well the first two games but I\u2019m not sure where he fits in.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think Ruben Amorim really likes Mount.\u2019<\/p>\n

Keane then added: \u2018Do you honestly think Mount\u2019s going to get United back? I know Amorim likes him but that worries me. For me that\u2019s a worry.\u2019<\/p>\n

Manchester United\u2019s issues in the centre of the park have been well documented and the club considered signing a new midfielder in the summer.<\/p>\n

Carlos Baleba was Ruben Amorim\u2019s first-choice target but United baulked at Brighton\u2019s huge transfer valuation<\/a>, which stood at more than \u00a3100m.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Manchester United made a move to sign Conor Gallagher late in the window<\/a> but Atletico Madrid were not interested in sending the England star out on loan.<\/p>\n

United\u2019s midfield will once again be put under the spotlight this weekend when Amorim takes his team to local rivals Manchester City<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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