The days of players getting by at Manchester United in the name of “saving book value” are long gone, and Ruben Amorim’s latest message to Omar Berrada couldn’t be clearer.
Ineos have made a concerted effort to bring more accountability across all sections of Man Utd since taking over.
The players have felt it the most, with Ruben Amorim creating a list of exiled players before the start of the pre-season.
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Now, it seems like another clear message has been sent by the Man Utd manager to Omar Berrada over a struggling player who’s failing to meet Berrada’s standards.
Kobbie Mainoo talks to Manuel Ugarte, with Bruno Fernandes adjacent
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim’s stark message on Manuel Ugarte
Manuel Ugarte was expected to kick on this season with a full pre-season and having one year of acclimatising to English football.
With Ruben Amorim at the helm, the manager under whom he broke out in Portugal with Sporting, the stage was set for a breakout in England as well.
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However, the reality couldn’t be more different, with Ugarte struggling to make the first XI and suffering from poor form and a lack of confidence in the minutes he does get.
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Recently coming off a disaster for Uruguay, the pressure was firmly on Ugarte, and Amorim’s recent comments on him are brutal.
This is Ugarte’s second season at Old Trafford, and Amorim’s comments have an ominous undertone, because by Berrada’s standards, he has six months to save his United career.
Back in January 2024, Fabrizio Romano reported Berrada’s philosophy: “Omar Berrada knows how to create something special. His model and vision are so important for Manchester United. He already has the experience.
“Berrada knows that you have to perform; otherwise in 1-2 years, you have to leave the club.
“Players who stay at Manchester United for 3-4 years and never leave the club, is something unacceptable and won’t happen with the new board.”
Ugarte will be Ineos’ first litmus test at Man Utd
The next summer window will be Ineos’ second at the helm of Man Utd, which means Berrada’s philosophy above will be tested for the first time.
Players like Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to undeniably impress, and going by Berrada’s standards, both will need to find buyers if something doesn’t improve between now and the end of the season.
Ugarte will be the first litmus test for Ineos because Zirkzee’s frustration is mainly down to a lack of chances, not a lack of quality.
Ugarte, on the other hand, genuinely looks like a level below required to succeed at Old Trafford, so parting ways with him next summer will be a vindication for Ineos’ standards.
The midfielder has six months to change the narrative, failing which, he will become the first test subject of Berrada’s unflinching philosophy.