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£150k-a-week Manchester United star told‘he should be at Chelsea’

Gus Poyet has urged Manuel Ugarte to leave Manchester United this summer, insisting the midfielder made the wrong decision earlier in his career by not joining the London club.

Ugarte, 24, has endured a difficult spell at Old Trafford following his big-money move, struggling for consistent minutes and failing to cement a regular starting role. Reports suggest the Uruguayan could be among several players moved on as United prepare for a midfield rebuild ahead of the 2026–27 season.

Speaking in a recent interview, Poyet described Ugarte as a “top player” but questioned his career choices, pointing specifically to his decision to join Paris Saint-Germain instead of Chelsea when both clubs showed interest. He admitted he was “upset” at the time, believing Stamford Bridge would have been the ideal environment for the midfielder’s development.

Asked if he wants Ugarte to leave Manchester United this summer, Poyet told GOAL: ‘Yeah, and it’s affected me a lot because he’s from Uruguay.

‘Before he went to Paris Saint-Germain, I wanted him to come to CHELSEA. When they started the rumours, Chelsea, big Chelsea, you know you want to come, make a decision, come to Chelsea.

‘I don’t know him, so I couldn’t call him! And he went to Paris Saint-Germain and I was a little bit upset because I thought it was perfect at that time for Chelsea.

‘But after that, he kind of didn’t kick on. Paris Saint-Germain and now Manchester United. He needs to find the right club.

‘I think he’s a top player. I think he’s a top central midfielder. I think he can cover the pitch well. He can cover spaces. He can defend well. He can play, start the options. But he needs to find the team.

‘He needs to find, I would say, the identity of a club to be able to play every week because he even lost his main position at the national team. In the national team, everybody was playing and was thinking Ugarte, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, [Fede] Valverde. And then the national team is playing with two and a number 10 off the front.

‘And that’s why he’s not playing. So, yes, it’s a big summer for Ugarte and I hope he makes a good decision for him and for his family.’

Should Ugarte have joined Chelsea?

In hindsight, Poyet’s argument carries weight.

At the time Ugarte left Sporting, Chelsea were actively rebuilding with a younger squad and in need of a dynamic defensive midfielder—arguably a perfect tactical and developmental fit. Regular Premier League minutes in a transitional CHELSEA side may have accelerated his growth and allowed him to establish himself in England earlier.

Ultimately, Ugarte’s situation highlights how crucial timing and club fit are in a player’s development. While Chelsea might have provided a better pathway, success would still have depended on coaching stability and consistent opportunities.

Now, the focus shifts to what comes next.

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