Man United star Manuel Ugarte sends message to Erik ten Hag over fitness concerns

Man United star Manuel Ugarte sends message to Erik ten Hag over fitness concerns

After the international break, Manuel Ugarte says he is prepared to immediately enter the Manchester United starting lineup and provide much-needed midfield support.

The Uruguayan international, who could end up costing £50.8 million, completed his departure from Paris Saint-Germain last week, making him the team’s fifth acquisition of the hectic summer transfer window.

The midfield player was presented to the Old Trafford supporters prior to kickoff even though he did not arrive in time to register for Sunday’s match against Liverpool.

That afternoon, United’s deficiencies in the midfield were glaringly evident as Casemiro had a terrible first half and was responsible for both of Luis Diaz’s goals.

The Brazil international was brought off at half-time, replaced by 20-year-old Toby Collyer who joined 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.

Ugarte will be available when United return to action against Southampton on 14 but after a busy summer at the Copa America and with no pre-season training under his belt, ten Hag has warned it could be ‘weeks or months’ before he settles into the side.

‘If you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn’t play so far in the season,’ the United boss said. ‘Not one match minute. So he needs to build his fitness and then we have to build him in the team and I’m sure he’ll be an important player.

‘But that will take a couple of weeks, maybe even months.’

Following his unveiling in Manchester on Sunday, Ugarte returned to Uruguay for matches against Paraguay and Venezuela.

Despite his manager’s concerns, ten Hag insists he is ready to come straight into the United side following the international break.

“I’m very happy, very hungry and very excited,” Ugarte said, Directvsports report.

‘I feel very good, I have prepared myself. The truth is that I haven’t played many minutes since the season began, but physically I feel very good.’

Ugarte was eager to make the move to Old Trafford having agreed personal terms with the club back in July.

Protracted negotiations with PSG delayed the move until the final week of the transfer window with the 23-year-old sold on the new project in place in Manchester.

‘It was a difficult month, I had to calm my anxiety a little, but now I am very happy, thrilled, hungry and excited,’ Ugarte told ESPN.

‘It is a team in change, because new owners came, the project is very good , I love the atmosphere on a day-to-day basis, the desire to succeed that exists in the team and the history that the club has.’