Gus Poyet has urged ‘top player’ Manuel Ugarte to leave Manchester United this summer and says he should have joined Chelsea earlier in his career.
Ugarte has been one of United’s most disappointing signings in recent years, failing to prove his worth since joining in a £50m move from PSG in 2024.
The Uruguay international has started just seven of Manchester United’s 31 Premier League games so far this season, barely being used since Michael Carrick returned to Old Trafford as caretaker manager.
Ugarte is contracted to United for another three years but looks set to be moved on way before that date, with the Red Devils believed to be open to offers ahead of the summer transfer window.
Poyet believes a summer move would be in the best interest of all parties and hopes his compatriot ‘finds the right club’ to secure more regular game-time and rediscover his form.
A move abroad seems likely although Poyet admits he was ‘upset’ Ugarte did not move to his former club Chelsea before his 2023 transfer to PSG.
Asked if he wants Ugarte to leave Man United this summer, Poyet told GOAL: ‘Yeah, and it’s affected me a lot because he’s from Uruguay.
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‘Before he went to Paris Saint-Germain, I wanted him to come to Chelsea. When they started the rumours, Chelsea, big Chelsea, you know you want to come, make a decision, come to Chelsea.
‘I don’t know him, so I couldn’t call him! And he went to Paris Saint-Germain and I was a little bit upset because I thought it was perfect at that time for Chelsea.
‘But after that, he kind of didn’t kick on. Paris Saint-Germain and now Manchester United. He needs to find the right club.
‘I think he’s a top player. I think he’s a top central midfielder. I think he can cover the pitch well. He can cover spaces. He can defend well. He can play, start the options. But he needs to find the team.
‘He needs to find, I would say, the identity of a club to be able to play every week because he even lost his main position at the national team.
‘In the national team, everybody was playing and was thinking Ugarte, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, [Fede] Valverde. And then the national team is playing with two and a number 10 off the front.
‘And that’s why he’s not playing. So, yes, it’s a big summer for Ugarte and I hope he makes a good decision for him and for his family.’
Earlier this month Manchester United legend Gary Neville predicted Ugarte would follow fellow midfielder Casemiro out of the club this summer.
Casemiro, who has enjoyed an impressive season, announced in January that he would be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season.
‘Casemiro is leaving and Manuel Ugarte I think will leave,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. ‘So United need two really good central midfield players.
‘Probably one that’s more positional, like a Michael Carrick-type, and one that’s more of a destroyer. I do think the back needs looking at but the midfield would be the real focus in the summer transfer window.’
Manchester United could only draw 2-2 with Bournemouth on Friday night but remain third in the Premier League with seven games remaining.
Chelsea, meanwhile, suffered a demoralising 3-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday to slip six points outside the top-four places.
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