Manuel Ugarte recently shed light on his decision to leave Sporting Lisbon and join Paris Saint-Germain. The promising Uruguayan midfielder made his move to the French capital official Friday.
As a result, the burning question was, why PSG? Those following the transfer saga knew it was a two-horse race between Chelsea and the Ligue 1 side. Ugarte explained the reason for snubbing the London-based club.
“Why I chose to join PSG? The size of the club, there’s also the fans,” Ugarte said. “I have always loved clubs with passionate fans. It’s something that really counted in my choice. Most important thing for me is to be able to win big things; I want to win trophies.”
🚨 Manuel Ugarte: “Why I chose to join PSG? The size of the club, there’s also the fans. I have always loved clubs with passionate fans. It’s something that really counted in my choice. Most important thing for me is to be able to win big things, I want to win trophies.” 🗣️🇺🇾 pic.twitter.com/k4hjJPW7l7
— PSGhub (@PSGhub) July 7, 2023
PSG paid €60 million to the Portuguese side and signed Ugarte to a five-year contract. The 22-year-old will now attempt to fill that defensive midfielder that Thiago Motta once held, which PSG has had difficulty replacing since the Italian retired.
While Chelsea may have missed signing Ugarte, the young midfielder’s explanation provides valuable insight into the decision-making process of highly sought-after talents.
It also highlights PSG’s reputation as a club that attracts top prospects by offering an attractive combination of sporting ambition, resources, and growth opportunities.
