Ruben Amorim does not have a problem with Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, according to GIVEMESPORT senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs.
The 24-year-old player has only started two out of six Premier League matches this season after struggling for form ever since his big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. Now under Amorim again, who saw him progress from Sporting CP to world star, there is a mutual respect contrary to reports.
Speaking on The United Stand's YouTube channel, Jacobs shed light on the reality behind the scenes with claims of dressing room disharmony.
"Yeah, I'm going against the grain here, because I'm told that Ruben Amorim really likes Manuel Ugarte and thinks he's exactly the right kind of profile, and just needs to get that extra bit out of him.
"Because he's one of those signings, like several Manchester United signings, that when they joined, you look at what the player had done, and you look at the age and the potential, and you think these are all going to improve this side."
Ugarte Not Alone in Disappointing Under Amorim
Manuel Ugarte in action for Manchester United
Ugarte, who cost United over £40million in 2024, was reunited with Amorim last November after Erik ten Hag was sacked. Their impressive relationship from Portugal could not transfer to the Premier League, though, with the club going on to finish 15th, losing the Europa League final and missing out on European football entirely.
The Uruguay destroyer played 45 games for the Red Devils but could not form a partnership with any of his fellow midfielders in Amorim's 3-4-3 system. He only clocked 1,700 league minutes during the season, the least he has managed since 2021/22.
However, Ugarte is not the only player to have failed to meet expectations at Old Trafford. Jacobs continues:
"There's several others that fall into that category, perhaps that have come in previous windows. Rasmus Hojlund being another example. Big, high price tags that perhaps haven't lived up to their billing and I think Ruben Amorim, with Ugarte, just feels he's got more to give, that he's got all the right attributes."
Ugarte himself has admitted that his start to the campaign has been underwhelming with all three of his starts across competitions ending in defeat, including the shock Carabao Cup penalty shootout exit to Grimsby Town in August.
Last month he admitted: "We haven't started the season very well. My level wasn't the best either, we have to be realistic and honest."
Ugarte did add: "But I'm very confident, I have a very good relationship with the coach. I work well and I'm very excited and eager to earn a starting spot.”
During United's 2-0 win over Sunderland prior to the international break Ugarte only managed five minutes from the bench and has lost his place to Casemiro of late.
Captain Bruno Fernandes occupies one of the two spots behind Amorim's new and expensively assembled front line. Ugarte is fighting for regular gametime again but could benefit from the break.
He is admired by Amorim despite his issues on the pitch and knows that Casemiro was on duty with Brazil in Asia over the past fortnight. Ugarte, in comparison, did not make Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay squad and has had additional time on the Carrington training field.
Ugarte was favoured over Casemiro after the September internationals, with the veteran afforded extra recovery time.