Manchester United have confirmed Manuel Ugarte has undergone successful surgery on a knee injury he sustained at the World Cup.
The midfielder was stretchered off in tears while playing for Uruguay against Spain at the World Cup.
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eSPORTY understands that Ugarte faces up to a year on the sidelines.
Ugarte on road to recovery
A statement on the Man United website read: “Manchester United can confirm that Manuel Ugarte has undergone successful surgery to address a knee-ligament injury, which he suffered whilst representing Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup.
“Ugarte will now begin the rehabilitation stage of his recovery and will be carefully managed by the club’s medical and performance staff.
“Everyone at Manchester United wishes Manuel well for his recovery and will be supporting him every step of the way.”
The major setback for the 25-year-old put paid to a summer move away from Old Trafford.
United were willing to sell Ugarte for just £25miilion – half of what they paid to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 – eSPORTY revealed back in April.
Ugarte made 22 Premier League appearances for United last season.
However, he averaged just over 40 minutes per game amid stiff competition for places in midfield.
Ugarte didn’t feature at all in any of Michael Carrick’s side’s final five games of the 2025/26 campaign.
And United fan and broadcaster Flex told eSPORTY’s Inside Devils the former Sporting Lisbon man was not up to scratch and predicted he would be on his way out of the club.
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Looking ahead to the summer transfer window and before Ugarte sustained his injury, Flex said: “Ugarte is not good enough. He’s going to leave, but that’s keeping the squad as it is.”
United in business
Having seen fellow midfielder Casemiro leave at the end of his contract, United have already made two big signings in that department.
The first was Youri Tielemans, who arrived from Aston Villa on Monday after United activated the Belgium captain’s £35m release clause.
Andrey Santos followed on Tuesday, completing a £50m move from Chelsea.
Goalkeeper Karl Darlow joined on the same day, signing on a free transfer after leaving Leeds.
United get their 2026/27 Premier League campaign underway with a trip to newly promoted Hull City on August 22.
