Manchester United signed Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, here is everything you need to know.
After a long transfer saga that finally concluded on transfer deadline day in 2024, Manchester United concluded a deal to bring Manuel Ugarte to Old Trafford.
This came after Manchester United confirmed the transfers of Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
Ugarte joined United after spending just one year at Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, with a deal for an initial £42 million agreed to bring Ugarte to Old Trafford.
Who is Man United Manuel Ugarte?
Manuel Ugarte is a professional football player who plays for Manchester United. He joined the Ligue 1 team from Sporting CP in July 2023 after Les Parisiens triggered a £52m release clause to beat interest from Chelsea in his transfer that summer.
READ MORE: Man Utd 24/25 confirmed signings, transfers in and out, loans and releases
How old is Manuel Ugarte?
Manuel Ugarte turned 24 on April 11, 2025. He has been a professional footballer since his debut with CA Fenix at 15 years, seven months and 23 days old in December 2016.
Where and when was Manuel Ugarte born?
Manuel Ugarte was born in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay, on April 11 in 2001. The city is now estimated to boast a rising population of just shy of 1.8 million residents in 2024.
How tall is Manuel Ugarte? What is his height in feet?
Standing at a height of 1.82 metres, Manuel Ugarte measures in at a height of 5 ft 11 in feet.
What position does Manuel Ugarte play?
Managers have predominantly played Ugarte in the position of defensive midfield. But he is also able to play as a central midfielder and has even, albeit sparingly, played at centre-half.
How good is Manuel Ugarte? What has been said about him?
Praise has often followed Manuel Ugarte throughout the Uruguay midfielder’s career to get transfer interest from Manchester United. He has regularly stood out for being a combative force within an engine room, capable of breaking up play with his tackles and interceptions.
Ugarte can hold down a midfield as the sole anchor as his reading of the game allows him to recover and cut off passes. His ability to interrupt attacks also often allows the player’s team to establish control in matches. Additionally, Ugarte is a tireless operator when on the pitch.
Luis Enrique also praised Ugarte from the off after the midfielder joined Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023. The Spanish coach noted, via Montevideo.com: “He was superb, wonderful. I loved him with the ball, I loved him off the ball and also what he did positionally.
“He gave us many chances to recover high pressure, he played with judgement, he carried the ball from one side to the other, he filtered passes and he was very powerful in physical duels. A 10 [out of 10] for Manu Ugarte.”
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who won the 1998 World Cup with France, also rates Ugarte very highly. The one-time Premier League champion said, via TEAMtalk, in July 2024: “Manuel Ugarte would be a great signing for Manchester United.
“Ugarte is mentally and physically strong as well as a holding midfielder who is ready to fight and I think he’s got the qualities to adapt himself to the Premier League.
“He could be a very important player for Manchester United because defensively they have been very weak for the last few years… He has a fighting spirit. This guy will never give up from the first minute until the last, he will give 100 per cent.”
Career stats of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte before he signed for Manchester United
Manuel Ugarte predominantly playing as a defensive midfielder has rarely seen the Uruguay international add goals or assists to his career senior stats, as of the end of the 23/24 term.
CA Fenix: 57 appearances, 2 goals, 1 assist, 14 yellow cards, 2 second yellows, 0 red cards
FC Famalicao: 21 appearances, 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 yellows, 0 second yellows, 1 red
Sporting CP: 85 appearances, 1 goal, 3 assists, 22 yellows, 1 second yellow, 0 reds
PSG: 37 appearances, 0 goals, 3 assists, 7 yellows, 0 second yellows, 0 reds
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