September 7th 2024.
During the recent international break, all eyes were on Manuel Ugarte as he made his debut for Uruguay against Paraguay. The 23-year-old had just completed his move to Manchester United in the final week of the summer transfer window and the fans were eager to see him in action.
Many were curious to see if Ugarte would make it straight into the starting XI for United, and he certainly did not disappoint. In fact, his all-action display on the field showed that he is more than ready to take on the challenge and make an impact for his new team.
However, due to his late arrival, Ugarte was not registered in time for United's highly-anticipated match against Liverpool. Instead, he watched from the sidelines as his potential replacement, Casemiro, struggled in midfield and United suffered a crushing defeat.
While some new signings are thrown straight into the starting lineup, United's manager, Erik ten Hag, has opted to ease Ugarte in gradually. This approach has been used with other new signings in the past, including Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt.
But after witnessing the team's struggles in midfield against Liverpool, it is clear that Ugarte's presence is desperately needed. However, ten Hag has hinted that he may not rush the midfielder into the starting lineup despite the team's obvious deficiencies.
In an interview after the Liverpool match, ten Hag explained that Ugarte will need time to build his fitness and get acclimated to the team's style of play. He also pointed out that the midfielder has not played much this season due to his involvement in the Copa America and being left out of his previous team's plans.
However, Ugarte's performance against Paraguay showed no signs of any fitness or match readiness issues. He played the full 90 minutes and put on an impressive display, shielding the back line and effectively stopping counter attacks.
He also showed his ability to handle pressure as he comfortably coped with the Paraguayan press. Eventually, the match ended in a goalless draw and Ugarte was substituted after 79 minutes.
But the midfielder will have another chance to gain more match experience when Uruguay takes on Venezuela on Tuesday. And despite his lack of playing time so far this season, Ugarte is confident in his ability to contribute to the team.
In fact, he stated that he feels physically fit and ready to make an impact for United. With his hunger and excitement to play for his new team, it is clear that Ugarte has all the makings of a successful addition to the Manchester United squad.
Fans can look forward to seeing him in action in the upcoming matches as he continues to build his fitness and become an integral part of the team. Stay tuned for more news, exclusives, and analysis on Manchester United.
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