Manchester United turn down loan offer for much-criticised midfielder

There is interest in taking Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte on loan this month, but the Red Devils have so far rejected the idea.

The 24-year-old arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024 in a deal worth £42m, but has failed to impress since then.

The Uruguay international was brought in as the successor to Casemiro at the base of the midfield, but the Brazilian has continued to outshine his teammate.

Ugarte was signed under Erik ten Hag and slipped down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim, despite playing for the Portuguese coach during their time together at Sporting.

New interim manager Michael Carrick started his first game in charge with a midfield three of Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes, with Ugarte appearing as a late substitute in the win over Manchester City.

The Uruguayan has made 18 appearances this season, so has featured regularly, despite not being first choice in the middle of the pitch.

The Athletic report report that Ajax have moved to offer Ugarte more first team opportunities with a loan move for the rest of the season.

However, the report states that an agreement is unlikely to be reached and the Red Devils have rejected the idea.

The Amsterdam giants are not enjoying a brilliant season, sitting 34th out of 36 teams in the Champions League group stage and third in the Eredivisie table.

John Heitinga started the season as Ajax boss but was sacked on November 6, with Fred Grim currently in interim charge.

Ugarte may not depart Old Trafford this month, but his long-term future at the club remains in question given the reviews of his performances so far.

Gary Neville has been critical of the midfielder, saying he is ‘absolutely not’ a Manchester United player earlier this season.

During a Premier League meeting with Aston Villa, Neville had a scathing take on Ugarte, saying on Sky Sports: ‘The problem with having Ugarte in that deep-lying position is he’s not very good on the ball – and he’s just proven it.’

Nicky Butt shares Neville’s opinion, saying on The Good, The Bad and The Football: ‘Ugarte is not a Manchester United midfielder in a million years. Not in a million years he’s a Man United midfielder.

‘That’s just one example of the recruitment and how they keep getting it wrong. They keep getting it wrong all the time with the players they’re bringing in and that’s a fact.’

Even his then-manager Amorim stuck the boot in on Ugarte, saying he was struggling in November last year.

‘He is struggling in the moment, but it is our job to try to help our players and again, everything can change,’ said Amorim.

‘You saw it five weeks ago, the environment was completely different, so I know that Ugarte is struggling in the moment, and my job is trying to help him to feel as a player, like I felt when he was a Sporting player, for example.

‘But it is a different world and he needs to adapt and he needs to improve, especially in training.’

Perhaps the most stinging criticism came from ESPN pundit and former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley, though, who said of the Red Devils flop: ‘Manuel Ugarte is just absolutely nothing. He’s just like a wet blanket.

‘Put him in with the kids and even the kids would be going, “Who the hell is this guy?” Seriously.’

The criticism has also come from a legendary name in Marco van Basten, who was stunned by how much Manchester United paid for Ugarte shortly after they signed him.

‘I saw a new player walking around at Manchester United, Ugarte, for €50M! How is this guy walking around there?’ Van Basten questioned.

‘It’s idiotic how much he [Ten Hag] has decided to invest in players who are not even good!’