who is Manuel Ugarte, PSG’s third recruit?

After Milan Skriniar and Marco Asensio, Paris Saint-Germain has its third recruit of the summer. Manuel Ugarte signed up with PSG on Friday July 7 for a five-season lease, i.e. until June 30, 2028. Still unknown to the general public, the Uruguayan represents a significant investment for the Parisian club, whose clause release, fixed by Sporting was 60 million euros. Presentation of the new reinforcement in the Parisian midfield.

An early international

With Manuel Ugarte, the French champion is preparing for the future. Long considered one of South America’s most promising players in his position, the Uruguayan was the youngest player in history to play a game in his country’s league, aged just 15. and 9 months. Now 22 years old, he did not wait long to make his place in the selection. The Montevideo native was called up for the first time in 2021 with Celeste, at just 20 years old.

Substitute during the last World Cup, he is still a player already used to the high level. He played 14 European Cup matches (including 10 in the Champions League) with Portuguese club Sporting. Systematically in C1 this season, he notably crossed paths with Olympique de Marseille in the group stage.

A defensive watchdog

By snatching Ugarte from the competition, PSG may have found the player they have been looking for for several seasons now: a defensive midfielder, a real ball raker. This season, no other player from the seven major European leagues has won as many duels on average per game (over 7.5).

Always present, aggressive, Ugarte is a hyperactive stalker, constantly looking for ball recovery. To the point of being frequently at the limit, since he is the player who has committed the most faults this season in the Portuguese championship, the second in the Champions League (while Sporting has only played six games).

A complement to Marco Verratti

For ten years, and the arrival of the talented Marco Verratti, Paris Saint-Germain has been looking for a counterpart to its Italian midfielder. Ball player while being hardworking, the Transalpine flourishes even more alongside a real “number 6”. Like Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan has the reassuring profile to cover the more frequent risk-taking in the construction of Verratti. The new Parisian recruit is a faster dribbler than an esthete, and does not venture into the last 30 opposing meters. Ugarte is also a reliable passer with his tendency not to try to play forward. In 85 games played with Sporting, he has scored just one goal and provided three assists.

It remains to be confirmed that he will actually form this pair with Marco Verratti, while the future of the Parisian “little owl” is not yet fully guaranteed.