Manchester United’s summer signings of last season are starting to come into their own after an adjustment period, but Manuel Ugarte has gone backwards.
Manuel Ugarte was widely expected to be the biggest beneficiary of Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Man Utd, having worked with the manager to achieve his breakout in Portugal.
What has transpired since has even surprised Amorim, who has spoken some choice words to the player.
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That poor club form is now threatening to derail his international prospects as well, with the latest Uruguay disaster coming at the worst time for him.
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/USSF/Getty ImagesManuel Ugarte’s Uruguay disaster
Despite his struggles at Old Trafford, Ugarte’s industriousness and combative playing style have generally made him a favourite of Marcelo Bielsa at the international level.
He continues to be called up, and even though his minutes have been cut, he remains in their plans.
Therefore, Uruguay’s latest game against the USA was a major chance for the player to stake his claim, since it was a rare start for him.
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Forget about taking his chance, Ugarte ended the game as the lowest-rated outfielder in a surprise 5-1 loss to the USA.
Ugarte’s midfield partner was sent off, and he somehow still finished with a higher rating, as per Fotmob, ending the game with a rating of just 4.4.
His stats, on paper, were those of a player who was risk-free in possession and a passenger off the ball.
Despite the USA piling on the pressure, Ugarte finished the game with just a single tackle and one clearance to go with his three recoveries.
He won two out of his five duels and committed two fouls to sum up a forgettable game for himself, and a low point for the national team as well.
Ugarte’s form might force Ruben Amorim’s hand
So far, despite his poor form, Ugarte has remained in Amorim’s plans, mainly as a substitute to come on and act as a sweeper to see out a win/protect a draw.
He has played the role well on the odd occasion, but it went wrong against Spurs just before the international break, and his Uruguay misery has compounded the bad situation.
With Kobbie Mainoo sitting on the sidelines, deserving of more minutes, it is becoming increasingly difficult to favour Ugarte over him, despite Amorim’s comments that Mainoo is Bruno Fernandes’ backup instead of Casemiro.
The reality is, in current form, Ugarte is nobody’s backup, and he could probably do with some time out of the spotlight to get his head right.
The constant negative media coverage can hinder a player more than their performance can, so the best way forward might just be to take him out of the firing line.
This game against the USA might just have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.