Manchester United had been banking on the sale of Manuel Ugarte to help fund the summer midfield rebuild, but that can no longer be the case.
Uruguay had a pretty poor World Cup campaign, which has now ended with their elimination from the competition after a 1-0 defeat to Spain.
But from a Manchester United point of view, Manuel Ugarte’s injury is the main talking point from this game.
Ugarte went down and was stretchered off after suffering an injury to his left knee, which was non-contact.
Physio Scout on X has analysed this and noticed the valgus at the knee and the pivoting mechanism, which point toward an ACL tear.
A calf ripple was also seen, which typically indicates a tear, with the expected recovery time between 9 and 12 months.
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Manchester United need to spend despite Manuel Ugarte’s injury
While United looked able to sell Ugarte this summer, with clubs lining up, obviously, this can’t be relied upon if Ugarte is now out for most of the 2026/27 campaign.
Ugarte’s sale fee was going to be put towards funding a third midfield signing on top of the agreed deal for Ederson and potentially Mateus Fernandes.
However, with Ugarte injured, United can’t maintain this plan and needs to instead spend in the midfield regardless of the Uruguayan’s exit.
If the injury is as bad as reported, United needs to act as though Ugarte has been sold and add a third midfielder anyway, because otherwise the department will be horribly short in options across a planned 60-game season.
This is how a serious club would act. Think back to last summer when Arsenal were hit with Kai Havertz’s injury and immediately went and spent on Eberechi Eze.
United need to act like this if Ineos’ plan of winning the league in the coming years is to be realised.
Ederson, Fernandes, and then going out to sign a player like Lamine Camara or, more impressively, Ayyoub Bouaddi should now be on the agenda.
If Manuel Ugarte’s injury is as bad as feared, what should Man United do?
It is claimed Ugarte could miss 9-12 months through his knee injury.
Ugarte’s injury should accelerate United transfer plans
Ugarte was never going to play a part for United next season. Michael Carrick had made his thoughts on the midfielder pretty clear.
But his injury is a huge blow transfer-wise, both for him securing a new club and also for United being able to easily afford that extra addition.
However, United still needs to make that extra midfield signing, and this should force United to accelerate the plans.
Jason Wilcox cannot waste time anymore, with Ugarte’s injury likely to embolden clubs to put up the price for United, knowing the desperation.
But if United are to be a serious club next season, two or three midfielders need to be at the club by the end of July.
Ugarte’s injury also means the likes of Jacob Devaney have an even better of a chance to break through during the coming season.
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