What Went Wrong For Manuel Ugarte Amid Manchester United Sale Plan Rumours

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has already cleared out one “bomb squad” from his outfit this season.

The ruthless Portuguese manager made light work of shipping out players he did not fancy earlier in the summer with the likes of Antony, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Chelsea star Alejandro Garnacho all departing.

Those exits showed how serious Amorim was and is about perfecting his squad at Old Trafford and only having players in the door that he wants and can fit his style on a regular and consistent basis.

So it is hardly unexpected to know that the former Sporting CP coach now has another group of stars he is reportedly willing to sanction exits for in the January transfer window so long as he can secure replacements in the same market.

Reports in the media suggest striker Joshua Zirkzee tops the list of those who may leave while left-back Tyrell Malacia is one who has been looking for a new club since last season. Another on the list is purported to be Kobbie Mainoo who wanted a loan move earlier this summer before he was told he would be going nowhere.

Perhaps the more surprising player who has apparently been told he can leave is midfielder Manuel Ugarte. YouTuber Mark Goldbridge earlier this summer claimed there had been a falling out between the Uruguayan, 24, and his manager but that went unchecked for some time. But now it appears there may have been some merit to the suggestion.

But just what has gone wrong for Ugarte at the Theatre of Dreams? Why is he not playing? How much game time has he had compared to the games he might have played?

We at FootballBlog crunched the numbers and delved deeper…

Why Ugarte has not played much for Manchester United

Managers have to be able to trust their players, especially a Manchester United boss with the club’s reputation on the line with every fixture on the schedule.

United are not exactly in the best spot in the Premier League as they sit seventh in the division. But while Amorim has been picking the likes of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes – out of his preferred position – over Ugarte and the out of favour Mainoo, it begs the question as to why.

Ugarte has featured just 10 times in all competitions this season so far and he has not seen a minute of football for his club since November 8 when he played 18 minutes against Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-2 draw away from home in North London. The midfielder has actually only managed 346 total minutes this season in total which averages at 34 minutes per match.

Even against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup the combative player was only given a half of the action to stamp his authority but Amorim’s decision has to be rooted in something.

Maybe the boss does not feel Ugarte has been playing to his potential. It is possible he trusts Fernandes in a deeper role than the natural Uruguayan in his own spot.

Did Amorim and Ugarte fall out?

The rumour still flying around remains that Amorim called Ugarte out in a team meeting and insisted that his defensive player was “not the same player” that he had been at Sporting CP.

Ugarte was not an Amorim signing having joined the club during Erik ten Hag’s stint and that fits with the notion that the manager has always maintained he would assess every player at the club before deciding what his long-term transfer plan would be.

Either way, the player seemingly – and perhaps understandably – did not take too kindly to being put on blast in a public forum alongside his teammates and that has stood in the way of their relationship up until this point. It is also notable to add that this meeting is believed to have been the same one during which Amorim told Garnacho he was free to leave.

Ugarte will surely leave the club and this alleged fallout could be the main reason.