Manchester United's hopes of offloading Manuel Ugarte to raise funds for a new midfielder have been dashed after the £50m Uruguayan suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury that will sideline him until 2027. The 24-year-old crumpled to the turf during Uruguay's World Cup group stage defeat to Spain, his left knee buckling awkwardly after a collision with teammate Giorgian de Arrascaet. A scan at Uruguay's World Cup base in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, confirmed the worst, ruling Ugarte out for the remainder of the year and well beyond.
United had been prepared to sell Ugarte at a loss under the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules, hoping the proceeds would help them land a third midfielder this summer. The club had already agreed a deal to bring in Ederson from Atalanta and held discussions with West Ham over Mateus Fernandes. But that proposed move for Fernandes is now plunged into doubt because Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to offer the Portugal international a higher salary. The Red Devils have already missed out on Elliot Anderson, who is set to complete a British record £116m move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City.
“Manuel Ugarte is ruled out until 2027 with an ACL injury, wrecking Manchester United's plans to sell him and fund a new midfielder.”
Ugarte arrived at Old Trafford from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day in August 2024, but started only ten games last season – of which Michael Carrick's side lost six and won one. Since selling Ugarte, PSG have won back-to-back Champions Leagues with the midfield trio of Joao Neves, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz, widely considered club football's best midfield. United now find themselves scrambling for alternatives, with Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Brighton's Carlos Baleba both admired by the club.
The injury also robs Uruguay of one of their key players for the remainder of the World Cup, compounding the disappointment of their group stage exit after the defeat to Spain. For United, the blow is doubly painful: not only do they lose a player for an extended period, but their transfer strategy – built around selling Ugarte to free up funds – lies in ruins.