Manchester United owner INEOS green-lits sale of midfielder Manuel Ugarte as club seeks £25m exit fee
Potential suitors include Galatasaray, Ajax and Serie A clubs as the club aims to finalise a deal in the current summer window.
Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has personally authorised the sale of midfielder Manuel Ugarte, valuing the 25-year-old Uruguayan at approximately £25 million. This decision comes after a period of lacklustre performances since the player joined the club for £42 million in the summer of 2024. The sale is expected to be finalised in the current transfer window rather than waiting for the next opportunity.
The move to sell reflects a strategic shift by INEOS, who now believe it is preferable to part ways now and recuperate a respectable fee, rather than risk having no suitors in the mix next year. Following a particularly poor showing in a recent defeat to Leeds United, reports indicate that Ratcliffe green-lit the sale during a visit to Carrington. The club has concluded that the player's terms will be torn up after only 48 months of his initial five-year contract.
Interest in the midfielder has been expressed by a range of clubs across Europe. Galatasaray held talks with Ugarte back in January before an agreement failed to materialise, though they retain their interest as the window reopens. Ajax have also considered a move in recent months, while various teams in Serie A are willing to take a punt on the out-of-favour Red.
The context of this transfer saga highlights a significant shift in value for the player since his arrival. At the time of his initial move from Paris Saint-Germain, Ugarte's market value was considerably higher than the current estimated £25 million valuation. PSG were keen to facilitate his exit to sign young starlet Joao Neves, while Manchester United pursued the deal following the departure of Scott McTominay for Liverpool.
In a notable piece of institutional irony, Liverpool were offered the chance to sign Ugarte from PSG in the summer of 2024 but rebuffed the proposal. This mirrors a previous instance where the club was snubbed by Martin Zubimendi in the same summer window, leading to his eventual move to Real Sociedad. Despite this history, Liverpool are not among the potential suitors for the midfielder.
The reported valuation of £25 million is a club figure, and the final transfer fee may differ based on negotiations. While Galatasaray and Ajax have shown interest, no formal agreement has been reached with any of the potential suitors. Nevertheless, the club's stance appears firm in its desire to move on from the player during this summer.
