Manchester United are moving towards a key midfield decision ahead of the summer window. Manuel Ugarte’s situation is now becoming clearer after months of uncertainty.
The 24-year-old arrived at Old Trafford in 2024 for around €50m (£43m) from Paris Saint-Germain. He carried expectations of adding bite and control to the midfield.
However, that impact has not materialised. Instead, Ugarte has struggled for consistency and, more recently, for minutes.
This season, he has played just 791 minutes in the Premier League. His last start came against Burnley, and since then he has largely remained on the bench under Michael Carrick.
As a result, frustration has grown, both internally and publicly. The player already admitted earlier this month that the lack of game time is becoming an issue.
Exit now part of Manchester United plan
Manchester United are no longer just considering possibilities. They are now actively open to selling Manuel Ugarte in the next transfer window.
That is according to Uruguayan newspaper El Pais, who report that the club are willing to sanction a departure despite the midfielder being under contract until 2029. The decision reflects both his limited role. Moreover, it shows the broader need to reshape the midfield.
Ugarte still carries strong market value, helped by his age and his standing in the Uruguay national team under Marcelo Bielsa. A sale this summer would allow the club to reinvest before that value risks dropping further.
There is also a wider squad context. Manchester United are expected to look for midfield reinforcements who better fit Carrick’s system, particularly in terms of progression and tempo. Keeping a player with limited involvement would only complicate that rebuild.
Serie A interest grows as competition emerges
Manuel Ugarte’s situation has quickly attracted attention in Italy, and what initially looked like a single-club interest is now developing into a more competitive race.
Juventus remain firmly in the picture. As previously reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, sporting director Marco Ottolini is set to watch the midfielder closely during Uruguay’s friendly against Algeria at the Allianz Stadium. That scouting opportunity is seen as a key step ahead of the summer.
However, Juventus are no longer alone. El Pais state that Napoli have now joined the race and are ready to push for the signing. Meaning the Serie A champions could reunite an Old Trafford midfield duo, with Ugarte playing alongside Scott McTominay again. But the bottom line is that two major Italian sides are tracking the same opportunity.
Atlético Madrid previously looked at Ugarte. Meanwhile, Aston Villa and Newcastle United both explored loan deals in earlier windows, only to be turned down by Manchester United at the time.
What happens next
Manuel Ugarte is keen to resolve his future quickly. The midfielder wants clarity before the upcoming World Cup, allowing him to focus fully on international duty with Uruguay.
Crucially, he is prioritising a move within Europe’s top leagues. Offers from Turkey and Saudi Arabia have already been rejected, signalling that sporting level outweighs financial incentives at this stage of his career.
For Manchester United, the direction is now clear. The club are prepared to listen, and with interest building in Serie A, the conditions are in place for a summer exit.
Everything now points towards movement in the coming months – and potentially a bidding battle that could help United maximise their return.
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