Man Utd boost as £50m summer signing Ugarte destroys fitness fears with incredible Uruguay feat
MANUEL UGARTE has destroyed fears regarding his fitness after his incredible performance for Uruguay.
Erik ten Hag previously claimed that the £50.8million midfielder may need time to get up to speed to start in the first team.
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“In fact, I think this is what the fans celebrated the most; the number of balls recovered by our two full-backs and Ugarte.”
And after the match, former PSG star Ugarte revealed his readiness to dive into action with Ten Hag’s squad.
Ugarte said: "I’m very happy, very hungry and very excited.
"I feel very good, I have prepared myself. The truth is that I haven’t played many minutes since the season began, but physically I feel very good."
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Manuel Ugarte vs Parguay
- 79 minutes played
- 87% accurate passes
- 9/12 Ground duels won
- 3/4 Aerial duels won
- 0 Dribbled past
- 1 Chance created
United have had a disappointing start to the season, securing only one win from their first three Premier League matches.
Following Ugarte’s performance, Ten Hag will be relieved that the player’s fitness is not a concern.
The Dutchman claimed last week that it might take “a couple of weeks, maybe even months” to “build him into the team.”
Manuel Ugarte the next Roy Keane
By PHIL THOMAS
NEARLY two decades have passed since Roy Keane led Manchester United into battle for the final time.
It left a gap in the engine room that the Red Devils have never really come close to filling in the 19 years that have followed.
Many tried and some managed it in flashes and, although the trophies still rolled in for a time, there was no snarling, bring-it-on warrior prowling the midfield.
Until now… until the imminent capture of a man who views a 50-50 challenge like a starving Labrador staring at a side of ham.
For three months, United have licked their own lips at the prospect of a midfield marshalled by Uruguayan tough guy Manuel Ugarte.
Finally, they have their man.
Ugarte is pretty much a ball-winner pure and simple.
Rarely will you see him pinging 40-yard passes to split a defence.
But ending his days with half the reputation of Keane and a fraction of his silverware would still mean a hell of a career.