Man United have shared fresh injury news on midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who is now recovering from knee surgery. He has not played a single game for the club this season after picking up the problem at the World Cup. He was recently pictured back in training at Carrington.
The Manuel Ugarte injury and the long road back
Ugarte got hurt during Uruguay’s World Cup match against Spain earlier this summer. That knee ligament problem occurred during the group stage clash, forcing him off the pitch on a stretcher before the match ended. Uruguay lost the game 1-0, and the injury brought an early end to his tournament. As reported by The Standard, United confirmed the issue soon after in a club statement.
The club said its doctors were still checking the best way to treat him and plan his rehab. In its statement, United said Ugarte would have support “every step of the way” as he begins his recovery. Full training remains off the table for him right through until sometime in 2027. That means he is likely to miss the rest of this season, and possibly the start of the next.
Despite that setback, Ugarte still made the cut for United’s Premier League and Champions League squad lists this campaign. The decision suggests the club still views him as part of its long-term midfield plans, injury or not. Once he returns to full fitness, his squad place will be waiting for him.
Ugarte’s stats for the 2025-26 season at Man United, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Tackles Interceptions Defensive contributions Duels Won%
Premier League 22 46 20 142 53.4%
FA Cup 1 5 0 6 72.7%
EFL Cup 1 0 2 2 57.1%
Manchester United’s support continues at Carrington
New pictures this week show Ugarte back in the gym at the club’s Carrington training base. He is working closely there with the medical and fitness staff who guide his comeback. Each session is aimed at building his strength back up in careful, measured stages.
The club’s social media pages shared some kind words of support for Ugarte this week. Those posts framed his recovery as coming together slowly, piece by piece, step by step. It was a rare public show of support for a player who has not played all season.
Manager Michael Carrick still chose to keep Manuel Ugarte in the senior squad list, despite his long injury layoff. The decision raised a few eyebrows given how long he has been out. Still, it sends a clear message that his place at Manchester United remains secure.
Manchester United - Man Utd
Manchester United - Man Utd
What Ugarte’s absence means for United
Ugarte will miss out on Sunday’s big Manchester derby clash against rivals Manchester City. It will be the first Manchester derby of the season, one of the biggest games on the football schedule. United have missed his passing range and defensive work in midfield at times so far this year.
The timing of this injury is far from good news for United. The club wants to build steady form across both the league and its European games. Other players in the squad will need to share his usual passing and defensive work in midfield. Ugarte’s comeback will need to progress without any fresh setbacks over the coming months. His likely return date remains many months away. Still, his current training progress gives the club reason to stay optimistic about his return.
For now, patience remains the key word around Old Trafford. Ugarte’s comeback timeline stretches well into next year. Yet his clear effort in training shows he remains fully focused on his future at Manchester United.
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