New Man Utd signing Manuel Ugarte sends huge message to Erik ten Hag on international duty

New Man Utd signing Manuel Ugarte sends huge message to Erik ten Hag on international duty

Manchester United’s latest signing Manuel Ugarte, demonstrated his prowess to Erik ten Hag in Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

After a prolonged tale that tried United’s patience, the former PSG star signed with the Red Devils on deadline day.

In the end, the club decided on a £42 million starting price for the midfield player, with the possibility of a further £50.5 million if certain conditions are fulfilled. Ugarte was at Old Trafford last Sunday to witness his new colleagues lose to Liverpool 3-0 in a humiliating match.

With two mistakes that resulted in two goals, Casemiro, who is directly vying with the 23-year-old for a starting spot, had an especially difficult afternoon.

By substituting youthful talent Toby Collyer for him at halftime, Ten Hag made a daring statement. All eyes will be on the manager as the Premier League prepares to resume next weekend.

Ugarte did nothing to jeopardise his chances of being selected for the match at St Mary’s Stadium, delivering an impressive performance in defensive midfield. While Casemiro struggled with spatial awareness in the loss to Liverpool, Ugarte seemed comfortable just ahead of the backline, helping to counter Paraguay’s press.

Ugarte also played a crucial role in thwarting counter-attacks, making some remarkable last-minute tackles to prevent the opposition from creating dangerous opportunities. Despite the match ending in a goalless draw, the midfielder will undoubtedly be satisfied with his 79-minute contribution.

This performance is sure to give Ten Hag something to think about ahead of next Saturday’s showdown with the Saints.