"The Red Devils," Manchester United, are reportedly preparing to sell one of their star players this summer.
The Athletic, a well-known British media outlet, reported that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of "The Red Devils" Manchester United, has ordered the club to release Manuel Ugarte, the Uruguayan international midfielder, from Old Trafford this summer after his disappointing performance against Leeds United.
Sir Jim attended that match, which ended with the Red Devils losing 1-2 at home to Leeds. He was very unimpressed with Ugarte's performance. Ugarte joined from PSG for £51 million two seasons ago and now appears to be the first casualty of a major team restructuring this summer.
Sir Jim wants to reduce Manchester United's oversized squad, which has underperformed. The billionaire made it clear that Ugarte is no longer needed in the team, according to The Athletic's report.
Ugarte has lacked both intensity and the technical quality the club had expected from him. His time at the Red Devils is nearing its end. The consistency required for success in United's midfield has been missing whenever he has been on the pitch.
Ugarte's poor performance against Leeds was just one of many disappointing games, especially when starting matches. He often failed to perform well.
Selling a high-earning but underperforming player will help the management restructure the club's wage bill. The goal is to reinvest the funds from Ugarte's sale into players who are committed and can grow with the team.
Several players have been linked with Manchester United, including Premier League stars like Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson, Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, and Crystal Palace's promising young talent Adam Worthington.