Pundit Rio Ferdinand has now dropped an eye-opening perspective on Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte before and after he signed for Manchester United.
Manuel Ugarte arrived at Old Trafford during the Erik ten Hag era after the Red Devils signed the 24-year-old midfielder from French side Paris Saint-Germain.
Manuel Ugarte has taken a lot of criticism lately – but he stepped up vs Newcastle!
What did you like/dislike about Ugarte's performance?
Ugarte stats vs Newcastle
Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Manchester United paid an initial fee of £42.1m and agreed a further £8.4m to bring the Uruguay international to England during the 2024 summer transfer window.
However, Ugarte failed to establish himself as a consistent United first-team starter under former Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag and later under Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils midfielder even had history with former United manager Ruben Amorim, having played under the 40-year-old Portuguese coach at Sporting CP.
READ MORE: Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox’s appointment of Michael Carrick as Man Utd interim boss included one unavoidable call
Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes look on following the Premier League match between Burnley and Manchester United at Turf Moor in 2026 in Burnley, England.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
TalkingPoints TV: Should Michael Carrick get a serious shot at becoming permanent Man Utd manager?
🗣Your comments could feature in the next video, make your voice heard!
Featuring…
📋 Michael Carrick’s top priorities
📈 How many wins Carrick needs
🏆 Winners and losers
❌ Ole misses out
⚽ Carrick’s playing days
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
More United News
What Rio Ferdinand was told about Manuel Ugarte at PSG and Sporting CP didn’t match the final Man Utd midfield version
Manuel Ugarte had only been at Paris Saint-Germain for one season before the Ligue 1 outfit sanctioned the sale of the Uruguayan defensive midfielder to the Red Devils.
The former PSG midfielder lifted both the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup in his debut season at the Parisian-based club after leaving Sporting CP in 2023.
Speaking on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand admitted that the “description” he received of Ugarte didn’t mirror the final product that Man Utd received in the 2024 transfer.
What is YOUR biggest reason to feel positive about Manchester United right now?
Manchester United badge inside the tunnel
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
“I have been disappointed with Ugarte,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“I mean, he’s one player who, when he came in, everyone was saying he’s got legs, he can tackle, he can move.
“The description that I was getting was the right type of player that we needed.
“It just hasn’t materialised. It just hasn’t come to the fore. I’ve not seen the player that everyone was talking about before in terms of being able to get up against people quickly to tackle.”
READ MORE: Jamie Redknapp’s instant Michael Carrick prediction is made after his first-hand experience with Man Utd legend
Rio Ferdinand on what he expected to see from former PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte at Man Utd
Ugarte has been in and out of the starting XI in the United first team since his move to England, both under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand has admitted that the truly “aggressive” nature of Ugarte’s midfield qualities has not emerged since the start of the player’s spell at the club.
Who is the best Man Utd midfielder 2000-2025? Cast your vote 🗳️
The top THREE make it into our XI
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
“Like, that’s meant to be [a] big part of his game [which] is being aggressive and he hasn’t put a marker down in a game,” he added.
“That’s made me go at any point this guy could be one of our midfield dogs or controllers, who’s going to really get things going in the midfield.
“He hasn’t got anywhere near that.”
Ugarte has made 17 appearances for United in the 2025-26 season and the former PSG and Sporting player has not scored or picked up an assist so far.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox