Michael Carrick offered opportunities to a number of academy prospects in Man United's win over Brighton, but his decision not to introduce one substitute felt particularly telling.
Ugarte celebrates with his teammates
Ugarte celebrates with his teammates
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"Since I've come in, and he's played and come on, he's been fine," Michael Carrick said as he launched a defence of Manuel Ugarte following Manchester United's chastening defeat to Leeds last month.
"I think tonight was a tough game, not just for Manu. It was one of those games when it was a tough night. I actually thought, especially when we went down to 10 men, that he did a lot of covering for other players to be able to attack."
Carrick was keen to protect the Uruguay international after a tough season in which he has made just 10 starts in all competitions. Those 10 starts have included defeats to the likes of Grimsby and Leeds, and while you can by no means place the blame for said losses solely at Ugarte's door, it's certainly not an enviable record.
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Signed as the eventual successor to Casemiro, Ugarte's form during his time in Manchester has never threatened to justify the fee of up to £50.8million United paid to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.
His first season in England was written off by many as a bedding-in period, and some bright showings in the pre-season tour of America last summer suggested we could be about to see the best of the 25-year-old. It proved not to be the case and United will sanction an exit for Ugarte this summer if an acceptable offer comes their way.
When Carrick confirmed Casemiro had played his final game for the club ahead of the trip to Brighton on Sunday, his decision not to hand Ugarte his ninth league start of the season on the south coast felt particularly telling. Mason Mount was selected to play alongside Kobbie Mainoo, and the former Chelsea man produced one of his better performances in a United shirt.
Not only was Ugarte not given a start, he didn't even make it off the bench, with the departing Tyrell Malacia offered a late cameo and youngsters Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey given minutes in a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Selling Ugarte this summer won't be easy. The midfielder is just two years into a five-year deal at Old Trafford, and he's done little to attract potential suitors in his time at the club.
Perhaps the World Cup will offer him a stage to showcase his ability and help United out in their quest to move him on.
You can't criticise Carrick for looking to defend Ugarte in public. But actions speak louder than words and it seems quite clear Ugarte has no future at Old Trafford.