Man Utd new signing is type of player City lack, he’s like £115m star, claims Owen Hargreaves

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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has touched down at the club and is busy getting settled in.

After being introduced at Carrington, new Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will be making plans to meet his new players.

A useful activity for Amorim and his staff will be to watch and analyse Manchester United’s recent matches under Ruud van Nistelrooy.

When they do, they will spot a familiar sight, former Sporting star Manuel Ugarte playing a key role in Manchester United’s midfield. He has been one of the big winners of Van Nistelrooy’s spell in interim charge.

Manuel Ugarte talked up

Manuel Ugarte has begun to hit form for Manchester United, a familiar sight for Amorim, and one Erik ten Hag never really got to see.

Ugarte put in a defensive masterclass against Leicester, and his partnership with Casemiro is looking strong at present, giving United a platform from which to build.

Former star Owen Hargreaves cited Ugarte’s form as key to Bruno Fernandes’ recent return to form, speaking to Rio Ferdinand’s podcast.

He said: “He’ll get you the ball eight times. So that’s eight times gonna get Bruno, another look. You get Bruno eight extra looks in a game. What’s gonna happen? Ball gonna end up in the back of the net.”

Hargreaves went on to point out that Ugarte’s role as a pure destroyer is unique, and one some teams lack, specifically pointing to Manchester City and their recent loss of form.

He compared Ugarte to Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, who cost £115 million. Ugarte cost £42 million by comparison.

“When you try and play a number 10 in that position, number 10s don’t tackle.

“City probably have a little bit of that [problem] right now. They got three ballers in there. But in crucial moments when you got to win a ball, like against Brighton, that’s not their specialty. Ugarte is a specialist defensively.

“Wins tackles, not the not the most beautiful, but he’s a bit a Caicedo-like. And I like that, I like my defense midfield players to play like that.”

Hargreaves will naturally have a particular affection for a player in Manuel Ugarte’s style, that was the role he played during his career.

• READ: Who is Manuel Ugarte? Everything you need to know on Uruguay midfielder

Ugarte heading on international duty

It is a little frustrating, temporarily, that as Ruben Amorim touches down in Carrington, Manuel Ugarte is departing, flying out on international duty with Uruguay.

Ugarte is scheduled to play in World Cup qualifiers against Colombia on November 16 and Brazil on November 20. And these are big games he cannot be rested for.

United just have to hope he returns fully healthy, ahead of a hectic late November and December schedule under Amorim.

The late Sunday fixture against Ipswich Town gives a little extra time for Ugarte and United. That fully extra day to prepare on the Saturday could be crucial for those returning for international duty in midweek.