In a recent World Cup qualifier match against Venezuela, Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte revealed that he played despite being ill. Ugarte, who is yet to make his debut for the Red Devils, started both matches for Uruguay this month. Despite feeling slightly under the weather, Ugarte managed to play the full 90 minutes in the match against Venezuela, helping his nation secure a clean sheet.
After the game, Ugarte spoke to AUF TV and said, “Now I feel a bit down but I felt fine during the match despite the heat. Yesterday I had a bit of a fever but we drew and got a point.” The Manchester Evening News quoted Ugarte as saying.
Speculation arose about whether Ugarte’s illness would affect his availability for the upcoming clash with Southampton. However, there is nothing to suggest that the illness will be serious enough to keep him out of the game.
Ugarte recently completed a £42.2m move to Old Trafford from PSG, but due to registration issues, he was unable to feature in the match against Liverpool. Despite this setback, Ugarte was introduced to the fans at Old Trafford in good spirits. The defeat to Liverpool highlighted the need for strength in the midfield, with Casemiro’s performance coming under scrutiny.
Casemiro, who is rumored to be Ugarte’s successor, had a difficult game against Liverpool and could potentially be dropped in favor of Ugarte for the upcoming match. Despite Ugarte’s impressive record at PSG, manager Erik ten Hag has cautioned that it may take some time for him to adapt to Manchester United’s style of play.
With several key players out due to injuries, including Leny Yoro, Rasmus Hojlund, Tyrell Malacia, and Mason Mount, Manchester United’s squad is facing some challenges. Additionally, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof are also undergoing assessments for their injuries.
Club captain Bruno Fernandes was seen with an ice pack after Portugal’s match against Scotland but downplayed the issue, referring to it as a “little bump.” The Red Devils will need to regroup quickly and integrate Ugarte into the squad to address the challenges they are currently facing.