Manuel Ugarte had to pick between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. Both clubs were ready to pay the £52 million release clause, and eventually, he had to choose which club he wanted to continue his career with.
The 22-year-old went with PSG, and in an interview with ESPN Uruguay, Ugarte revealed that he had discussions with Edinson Cavani about the Parisians. Ugarte noted that the PSG legend helped him prepare for what’s to come.
“During a tour in Japan, I spoke a lot with Cavani,” Ugarte told the outlet (h/t Paris Fans). “He said to me about the environment and the facilities; he prepared me for everything I experienced here. Cavani is loved here at the club; he is humble and grateful. He’s a player from whom to take inspiration. Everything happened fast. I was in Uruguay. Then I went to Portugal, where everything was amazing.
“I will always be grateful to the country and how it received me. And now I have arrived at a giant club like PSG here in France. The truth is that in the short time I have been there, I feel thrilled, have had many experiences, and have learned a lot. I am happy with my first club title. I am in the adaptation phase, with a long way to go. I know I will learn a lot here.
In the same interview, Ugarte also compared the two managers after playing for both. Luis Enrique oversees his development at the club level, while Marcelo Bielsa leads him with the national team.
While both managers exhibit similar traits for the former Sporting Lisbon player, they also have a crucial difference. Nonetheless, the midfielder benefits from the guidance of two impressive managers in his young career.
Whether it’s Cavani or his two managers, Ugarte has the right people in his corner to help him succeed.
