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After a summer-long chase, Manchester United have got their priority midfield target, Manuel Ugarte. The 23-year-old midfielder is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain for United in a deal reported to be worth €50m plus a further €10m in add-ons.
United are paying a premium fee for a midfielder who found himself on the fringes in the French capital, with Luis Enrique preferring João Neves’s technical security over Ugarte’s combativeness.
However, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming United consider him to be “one of the best young” midfielders in the game. And his incredible display for Uruguay in this summer’s Copa America underlined he has skill sets to strengthen United’s midfield.
In the right system, Ugarte is capable of delivering the kind of performances that Premier League fans last saw from N’Golo Kanté and we have stats to back this seemingly over-the-top suggestion.
According to OptaJoe, Ugarte made 4.6 tackles per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 last season. The last player to achieve similar figures in the French top division was Caen youngster Kanté during the 2014-15 season.
4.6 – Manuel Ugarte made 4.6 tackles per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 last season – the last player to make that many in a Ligue 1 campaign and move to the Premier League the following season was N’Golo Kanté in 2014-15 for Caen (5 per 90) before joining Leicester. Manchester? pic.twitter.com/WjFUIyFmMW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 21, 2024
The Frenchman eventually moved to Leicester City and by the time he left Chelsea for Saudi Arabia, he had established himself as one of the best midfield destroyers the game has ever seen.
In recent seasons, only a few midfielders in the country have managed to disrupt play and recover possession as effectively and efficiently as Kante. Casemiro in his maiden season and João Palhinha at Fulham spring first to mind.
Ugarte replaced the Portuguese at Sporting with great success and is arriving at the Theatre of Dreams with hopes of snatching the Brazilian’s spot.
According to Statman Dave, Ugarte “made 6.4 tackles plus interceptions per 90 in Ligue 1 last season. João Palhinha was the only player in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues to have managed more (6.6).”
Manuel Ugarte made 6.4 tackles plus interceptions per 90 in Ligue 1 last season. João Palhinha was the only player in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues to have managed more (6.6).
Kante numbers. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/dfdtLz2Ui0
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) August 16, 2024
What separates Kante from Palhinha is the ex-Chelsea man’s incredible pace for a defensive midfielder. The Uruguayan star possesses the same striking pace and agility, which made him an integral part of Rúben Amorim’s counter-pressing system.
The same swiftness and ability to run up and down the pitch should also make him a perfect fit for Erik ten Hag’s transition-focused style of play, which leaves plenty of space for his defensive midfielder to cover. Out of possession, there are not many midfielders currently better than Ugarte.
Further, akin to Kante, he is not an expansive passer but has the ability to dribble his way out of a press as well as composure to find his more technically proficient teammates to progress the play. Sky Sports made the comparison between the pair, referring to Ugarte as “Kante-like”.
All in all, United and Ten Hag are getting what they chased all summer, and now the onus is on the gaffer to maximise his incredible potential and show why Ugarte was one of the most sought-after defensive midfielders in Europe last summer, having attracted interest from the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona before moving to Paris.
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2024-08-27 19:30:31
