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Sporting Lisbon boss makes bold Manuel Ugarte claim ahead of Manchester United debut
As Manchester United know very well, no transfer is ever really entirely free of risk in the madcap world of player trading.
But when it comes to signing talented up-and-comers from the Portuguese Primeira Liga, recent history tells us that there is plenty of value to be found in the Iberian market.
Of course, the first name that comes to mind is Bruno Fernandes. Surely the most successful signing of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. And a long time ago, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United will be hoping that Manuel Ugarte – who followed in Fernandes’ footsteps at Sporting Lisbon and arrives ’emotional’ and ready to go at Old Trafford after a spell at Paris Saint-Germain – can prove to be equally effective at £42 million.
If is not just United, however, who have enjoyed considerable success when shopping in Portugal.
Manchester United have Manuel Ugarte available
Former Benfica colossus Ruben Dias won the Premier League Player of the Year award in his first season at Man City.
Luis Diaz has been a huge hit at Liverpool. Paris Saint-Germain’s new-look midfield, meanwhile, has been built around the technical talents of Vitinha and one-time United target Joao Neves.
Then there’s Joao Palhinha, Nuno Mendes, Raul Jimenez, to name but three more.
Viktor Gyokeres, the prolific Sporting striker who has been linked with Man United himself during a 43-goal season in Lisbon, is likely to be the next mega-money departure from the Primeira Liga.
Sporting coach Ruben Amorim knows that there is a shelf life on Gyokeres’ career in the green and white stripes. Portugal’s top flight is, after all, a rather B-list league with a habit of producing A-list footballers.
Amorim feels that, if Sporting were plying their trade in a more high-profile competition, Man United’s new number 25 Ugarte would still be rattling into opposition midfielders at the Estadio Jose Alvalade rather than Old Trafford.
“There are many players who want to make the leap. It doesn’t mean they don’t like Sporting or don’t love being here,” Amorim tells CNN Portugal.
“If we were in another league, I can guarantee you that Ugarte would be here.”
Erik ten Hag preparing for Southampton clash
Man United’s admiration for Ugarte – reportedly their number one midfield target this summer – goes back to his Sporting days.
The ball-winning battleaxe spent two years in Portugal from 2021 to 2023. He won the Taca da Liga under Amorim, while helping Sporting move on from Palhinha following his departure to Fulham.
Playing down concerns over his fitness following a couple of impressive Uruguay displays during this month’s World Cup qualifiers, Ugarte could make his Manchester United debut away to Southampton on Saturday lunchtime.
It remains to be seen if Erik ten Hag opts to throw Ugarte straight in from the start. The Dutchman may be understandably wary to field Casemiro again after his nightmare against Liverpool, though the ‘Kante-like’ Toby Collyer is another option after impressing off the bench last time out.
“Manuel Ugarte – you will have seen he played for Uruguay – he returned this afternoon,” Ten Hag said during his Thursday press conference, via Sky Info on YouTube. “He was the only player who returned today.
“He is available for this game (against Southampton).”
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