Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has made Uruguay’s 26-man squad for the summer World Cup despite limited Premier League playing time.
The 25-year-old had a difficult second season with the Red Devils. He managed just 881 minutes of league action over the course of the campaign.
Ugarte played second fiddle to Casemiro for the number six position. Towards the end of the season, he was a regular unused substitute under manager Michael Carrick.
The former Paris Saint-Germain man is widely expected to leave United in the coming weeks. He was bought for £42 million upfront in 2024, but could leave for just £24m with Napoli keen.
Despite this, Ugarte has still made the 26-man squad to represent Uruguay at the World Cup. A strong showing should only benefit United in securing a higher transfer fee.
The ex-Sporting CP man was signed as a potential successor to Casemiro in 2024, but he has failed to meet expectations and struggled to cope with the higher intensity of English football.
Ugarte has maintained good passing accuracy throughout his United career, but has occasionally given away possession with poor distribution. He has been caught out of position many times.
Casemiro will formally depart when his contract expires on June 30, and the hierarchy have likewise made the decision to offload Ugarte. A replacement for the Uruguayan is already on the way.
United are on the cusp of securing an agreement with Atalanta for Ederson. Ederson may be seen as Ugarte’s direct successor, and another marquee holding midfielder could be signed too.
It has been reported that the Red Devils could further pursue a deal for Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali once Ederson arrives. The Italian could be prised away for around £86 million.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com