This week, Manchester United parted ways with manager Erik ten Hag following Sunday’s 2-1 loss to West Ham United in the Premier League. Although he extended his contract over the summer, Ten Hag’s side managed only four wins in their first 13 matches of the season.
ESPN reported this week, citing club sources, that management had lost confidence in Ten Hag’s ability to turn things around after the team’s disappointing start.
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly set to take over at Old Trafford, though nothing is official yet. If Amorim does join, former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte could see a new lease on life at Old Trafford.
Manuel Ugarte rubbing his hands to play for Ruben Amorim again
PSG sold Ugarte to Manchester United this past summer for a reported €50 million, with an additional €10 million in potential add-ons and a 10 percent sell-on clause.
According to a recent update from Chris Wheeler of The Daily Mail (h/t TEAMTalk), the arrival of Amorim will be great news for Ugarte. The combative midfielder has had a slow start at Old Trafford since his summer move.
However, Wheeler notes that Ugarte “will be rubbing his hands at the prospect of working with Amorim again.”
Ugarte previously excelled under Amorim at Sporting CP from 2021 to 2023. In fact, during the 2022-23 season, Ugarte ranked in the top one percent in six different metrics among midfielders across Europe.
Already there is a new air of optimism at Old Trafford with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first match and first win against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup with a resounding 5-2 scoreline.
The players must have been relieved that Erik ten Hag is gone and they have the freedom to play well.