Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte was stretchered off the pitch in clear distress during Uruguay’s World Cup group stage finale against Spain on Friday, raising immediate concerns over a potentially serious knee injury and throwing his club’s summer transfer strategy into disarray.
The 25-year-old was involved in an awkward collision with his own teammate, Mathías Olivera, shortly before halftime as both players attempted to challenge for possession. Olivera fell onto Ugarte’s extended leg, causing the midfielder to jam his studs into the turf and jar his knee.
As Ugarte received extensive medical treatment and was eventually replaced by Nicolás de la Cruz, Spain capitalized on the unbroken passage of play to open the scoring through a strike from Álex Baena.
The untimely injury presents a significant complication for Manchester United, who were widely expected to offload Ugarte during the current transfer window. Following his £50 million arrival in 2024, the Uruguayan international struggled to secure a regular place at Old Trafford last season, managing just eight Premier League starts overall and only one since manager Michael Carrick took charge in January.
While Ugarte remained a crucial figure for Marcelo Bielsa’s national team, his domestic difficulties had reportedly attracted interest from several Serie A clubs. However, any prospects of United recouping their initial investment or facilitating an exit are now likely on hold pending a full medical assessment.
A long-term absence for Ugarte would force United to reassess their impending midfield overhaul, which already prioritized finding a successor for Casemiro and securing adequate cover for Kobbie Mainoo ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.
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