How Good is Ugarte? What the "Midfield Ball-Winning Machine" with Clear Strengths and Weaknesses Can Bring to Manchester United
This summer, Manchester United has become very familiar with the name Ugarte. The club has been monitoring the 23-year-old midfielder for some time, and it appears he is set to don the Red Devils' jersey in the final days of the summer transfer window. So, why has Ugarte caught United's attention, and what can he bring to the team? The Athletic's writers Carl Anka, Peter Rutzler, and Anantaajith Raghuraman have teamed up to analyze Ugarte.
Ugarte's Strengths
After Palhinha's transfer to Fulham in 2021, Ugarte stepped up as his successor at Sporting CP. Before attracting the attention of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, Ugarte made a significant impact in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 tactical setup, eventually securing a transfer to PSG in 2023.
At the start of the 2023/2024 season, Ugarte expressed in an interview with PSG's official website: "Every time I win back possession, I feel a sense of joy. But as the game progresses, I start to wish for more—I want to score. I tell myself, I hope this turns into a goal."
Ugarte is a defensive midfielder who is highly confident in his defensive abilities. In matches, he not only displays remarkable athleticism but also brings intense defensive pressure through his tackles and interceptions.
A perfect partner for those who excel in progressive passing, Ugarte consistently finds ways to help his team regain possession. For opponents who like to hold onto the ball, Ugarte is a nightmare, and for those attackers who struggle to make quick, accurate decisions, maintaining possession under Ugarte's defensive pressure is nearly impossible.
Throughout Ugarte's career, he has been more akin to a piano mover than a piano player. His primary role on the pitch is to help his team regain possession and then make a simple pass to more creative teammates. When it comes to attacking, scoring goals remains more of a wishful aspiration for Ugarte, as he rarely poses a consistent goal threat—having scored only 4 goals in over 200 top-flight club appearances.
Despite this, Ugarte doesn’t view himself as merely a workhorse toiling in midfield. He is full of energy and aspires to be a warrior on the pitch, someone revered by all. In an interview, Ugarte stated, “When we have the ball, it’s a game. When we don’t, it’s a battle.”
Ugarte's Weaknesses and Why PSG Was Willing to Sell Him
Ugarte's arrival at PSG coincided with the beginning of Luis Enrique's tenure and his new approach. The Spanish coach, who has worked with top defensive midfielders like Busquets and Rodri, favors a possession-based style of play—one that requires midfielders to maintain composure and accurately pass the ball even under intense pressure.
This is where Ugarte's conservative passing style clashed with his coach’s football philosophy. In Ligue 1, Ugarte averages 4.1 forward passes per 90 minutes and only 0.7 key passes, both figures falling short of the league average for midfielders (5.4 forward passes and 1.2 key passes).
Additionally, Ugarte’s defensive style—seeing the ball and attempting to win it—often leads him to lose his defensive position, a significant concern for a meticulous coach like Luis Enrique.
In an interview in 2023, Luis Enrique spoke about Ugarte, saying: "He has a lot of areas where he can improve. Every player can still develop. Ugarte is an inspiration to many. I have seen him perform very well in the past. He is an excellent player signed by Campos, but he still has a lot of room for progress in both attacking and defensive aspects." He added, "Personalized players like him are very important to us, and we need to maintain consistency in the squad. He has been a surprise at the start of the season."
In early November, Paris Saint-Germain's 1-2 defeat to Milan in the Champions League highlighted the discrepancy between Ugarte's defensive style and the positional discipline and ball control expected by Luis Enrique. Ugarte was found at the deepest positions among his teammates Vitinha and Zaire-Emery, overwhelmed by passes created by Milan players. Loftus-Cheek and the diabetes duo's combination play tricked Ugarte out of his defensive position, exploiting the gaps in his teammates' defensive areas.
In that match, Ugarte won only 3 out of 15 duels and received a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Theo. He was substituted an hour later by Fabian Ruiz. That season, Ugarte played only one Champions League match for PSG—Luis Enrique preferred to use Vitinha, Zaire-Emery, and Fabian Ruiz during the games, which ultimately helped PSG reach the semifinals. Apart from the stylistic differences, there were also concerns about Ugarte's ability to adapt to higher intensity and pace. His defensive statistics in terms of tackles and timing seemed affected, and he frequently showed intermittent delays in his tackling, leading to some fouls. Most of the time, he either left too much space defensively or was impacted by opponents' advances, resulting in violations.
This is also reflected in his statistics. Compared to his final season at Sporting CP, his performance at PSG last season showed a decline in several key metrics: his successful tackle rate dropped from 54% in the 22/23 season to 48% last season; his interceptions per 90 minutes decreased from 2.2 to 1.9; his successful tackles per 90 minutes fell from 9.4 to 8.4; and his aerial duels success rate dropped from 63% to 54%.
When the ball is at his feet, Ugarte also appears less confident. He tends to sidestep rather than move forward during confrontations with opponents, which leads to him losing possession more frequently and increases the pressure on Donnarumma.
Ugarte could offer several benefits to Manchester United:
Defensive Relief: His ball-winning ability could help reduce the team's reliance on Casemiro for midfield defense, even though Ugarte might not match Casemiro's aerial and ball control skills.
Temporary Solution: Given the difficulty in finding a standout versatile midfielder, Ugarte could serve as a temporary defensive midfielder while Manchester United saves funds for a more ideal long-term target.
Young Talent: With recent signings like Zirkzee and Joro, Manchester United seems to be focusing on younger players with impressive technical and physical attributes. Ugarte fits this trend as a player under 25 who combines skill with strong physicality.
Tactical Flexibility: Ugarte could be crucial in pressing and counter-pressing scenarios in midfield. With recent additions like De Ligt and Mazraoui, Ten Hag now has more options to help in defensive organization and ball control. Ugarte's role could be streamlined to focus on ball possession and transitions, leveraging his short passing to enhance the attack rather than hinder it.
Overall, Ugarte’s addition could strengthen Manchester United’s midfield dynamics, offering both defensive solidity and versatility in their tactical approach.
Ugarte’s passion for defense and pure athleticism could indeed help Manchester United address some of their long-standing weaknesses. His resilience suggests he would adapt well to the physically demanding nature of the Premier League.
However, there are some concerns:
Role Fit: The question remains whether Ugarte is better suited to a team that doesn't emphasize ball control—where he can be a midfield disruptor—or a team with a tactical focus on ball control, where his contributions might be less pronounced.
Development Potential: Ugarte is still evolving and hasn't reached his peak form. He could follow a developmental trajectory similar to Gattuso’s, but his success will partly depend on whether he can find his “Pirlo”—a partner or system that complements his style and maximizes his strengths.
Tactical Fit: Earlier this year, Ugarte noted the differences between Luis Enrique’s and Uruguay coach Bielsa’s approaches to game tempo. Bielsa’s approach at Leeds emphasized quick ball movement, which contrasts with Enrique’s more possession-oriented style at PSG. Uruguay’s average possession rate was only 53% during this year's Copa America, with 21% of passes forward, while PSG had a 63% possession rate but only 14% of passes forward in last season’s Champions League. In comparison, Manchester United’s last season’s statistics showed a 50% average possession rate with 33% of passes forward.
For Manchester United fans, the key concern will be whether Ugarte can adapt to and thrive in their specific tactical system and whether he can bridge the gap between a disruptive role and one that integrates well into a possession-based setup.
Here's a comparison of Ugarte’s key metrics from his last season at Sporting CP, PSG, and the 2024 Copa America with Uruguay, focusing on his performance in quick forward transitions:
Key Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Sporting CP (22/23) | PSG (23/24) | Uruguay (2024 Copa America) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Possession | 56% | 63% | 53% |
| Forward Passes | 25% | 14% | 21% |
| Tackles Per 90 Mins | 9.4 | 8.4 | - |
| Interceptions Per 90 Mins | 2.2 | 1.9 | - |
| Successful Aerial Duels | 63% | 54% | - |
Observations
Flexibility in Positioning: Ugarte showed better performance in a system at Sporting CP that relied on flexible positioning rather than a complex attacking setup. This suggests he thrives in dynamic, less rigid systems.
Forward Passing and Possession: Sporting CP had a higher percentage of forward passes (25%) compared to PSG (14%), reflecting a quicker transition style that suited Ugarte’s strengths. Uruguay also showed a higher percentage of forward passes (21%) compared to PSG.
Defensive Metrics: Ugarte’s defensive statistics (tackles and interceptions) were stronger at Sporting CP compared to PSG, aligning with his role in a more transition-oriented team.
This data suggests that Ugarte excels in environments that emphasize quick transitions and flexible positioning, which could influence how he fits into Manchester United’s tactical setup.
You’re right; drawing a clear comparison between Ugarte’s performance metrics and Manchester United's new season approach is still premature. However, based on their recent match against Fulham, Manchester United's average data seems closer to the transition-focused style of Sporting CP and Bielsa's Uruguay rather than PSG's possession-heavy approach.
If Manchester United continues with a more direct, transition-oriented style, Ugarte could indeed be a good fit. His experience with fast-paced transitions and flexibility in positioning aligns well with this style.
However, if Manchester United shifts towards a more possession-based system, Ugarte might face challenges, as his struggles with ball control and adaptation to high-intensity play were evident during his time at PSG. His difficulties adapting to the rhythm and physical demands of top leagues could be a concern.
The key question will be whether Ugarte can successfully transition to the Premier League's intense physicality and pace, especially if Manchester United’s tactical approach evolves. His ability to adapt will be crucial in determining his success at Old Trafford.
news sources
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5711441/2024/08/20/manuel-ugarte-manchester-united-psg/?redirected=1
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