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Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has claimed that Manchester United have made the right choice by not spending €60-70 million on Manuel Ugarte.
The Red Devils have been linked to the Uruguayan all summer and agreed personal terms with the defensive midfielder weeks ago.
The player was reportedly waiting for United to complete a deal but this is seemingly impossible as the club have walked away from negotiations due to Paris Saint Germain’s excessive price demands.
While some fans will be irritated that the club have spent all summer pursuing a player they probably won’t sign, one man is convinced that United have made the right choice.
Speaking to Gambling Zone, the former World Cup winner Petit suggested that Ugarte is not what United should be looking for in a midfielder.
Commenting on the Uruguay international he said, “I like Manuel Ugarte but I think he’s limited. I think he has the quality to play in the Premier League, but I would question if he was what Erik ten Hag is looking for in a holding midfielder.”
The Frenchman was quick to mention they positives of the player claiming, “he’s got energy, he’s got a good mentality, and he’s a fighter on the pitch” who never gets injured.
However, the Arsenal legend queried whether he would have the required technical ability.
Ineos want to build a team who is proficient on the ball and comfortable in a possession-based style.
New signings Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro are both very technical players and defensive targets Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt also excel in possession.
Petit believes that Ugarte does not fit into this vision and claimed, “he is a player with a lot of limitations with the ball and with the football that Manchester United are trying to play, with ten Hag’s philosophy, Ugarte doesn’t have the required technical ability.”
He pinpointed the example of PSG’s dismal 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the Champions League last year and stated that Ugarte was all at sea due to the Magpies’ intense pressing.
“After the Newcastle game in the Champions League, we didn’t see him again. He had a nightmare that night. He looked completely lost under the pressure of Newcastle’s press. He had other poor games, but that was the match where Luis Enrique knew he couldn’t do the job he wanted him to do.”
Finally Petit opined that while he is a good player, there are better players on the market in the €60-70 million range that PSG are asking for the midfielder.
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