Manuel Ugarte’s total of 98 tackles was the most of any player in Ligue 1 last season; and he achieved it despite starting just 21 of 34 games for a team, Paris Saint-Germain, who spent around 66% of the time in possession.
The numbers underline his remarkable ball-winning prowess and they were even higher during his last campaign at his former club Sporting CP, during which the Uruguay international racked up 121 tackles in 31 games, the most by a player in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
Over the two seasons, there is only one player in Europe’s major leagues who has averaged more tackles per 90 minutes and that is Joao Palhinha, the man Ugarte helped replace in Sporting’s midfield before securing his £51million move to PSG last summer.
A year later, Ugarte is once again in demand. Manchester United’s midfield was a problem area last season. Erik ten Hag’s team was too easy to handle. Ugarte, nine years younger than Casemiro (23), could bring qualities that they lacked.
Only Joao Palhinha has averaged more tackles per 90 minutes than Ugarte
Certainly, his defensive work has been impressive so far in his career.
“He has seven lungs, he never stops,” said Juan Ramon Carrasco, his former coach at Fenix in Uruguay. “He has an extraordinary ability to steal the ball,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique. “He reminds me of N’Golo Kanté,” added PSG defender Lucas Hernandez.
The comparison with Kante is a tantalising one for Manchester United fans and is reinforced by the fact that Hernandez counts the former Chelsea midfielder among his team-mates with France.
Even at half his level in the Premier League, Ugarte would be a worthwhile investment for United.
There are some similarities. In addition to being a prodigious tackler, Ugarte reads the game intelligently, anticipating danger with timely interceptions. Like Kanté, he also has a fearsome engine that allows him to make his presence felt both offensively and defensively.
Manuel Ugarte is well ranked despite only 21 starts in Ligue 1
“He dominates more than half of the pitch,” Carrasco added. Indeed, despite being a defensive midfielder, Ugarte ranked second in Ligue 1 in terms of possessions recovered in the final third of the pitch last season, a statistic that highlights his aggressive and attacking approach in defence.
Sometimes he comes close. In a Europa League trip to Arsenal with Sporting, he was sent off for a late foul on Bukayo Saka. But that was one of only two red cards in four seasons in Europe. He is usually smart enough to stay within bounds.
And then his performance that night at the Emirates Stadium is remembered for other reasons.
Before the sending off, in the final minutes of extra time, Ugarte was key to the 1-1 draw that saw Sporting advance on penalties. He worked tirelessly without the ball and showed all his quality with the ball, ranking first among all players in tackles and dribbles.
Ugarte attempts to block a Granit Xhaka cross for Sporting against Arsenal
This dribbling ability is another attractive aspect of his game.
Ugarte is able to weave through opponents, often in his own half, to advance the ball up the pitch. During Sporting’s run to the Europa League quarter-finals that year, only two of his teammates, wingers Pote and Marcus Edwards, managed more assists.
Of course, the most pressing problems at United are defensive.
Ten Hag’s side conceded 58 Premier League goals last season, the highest total in the club’s history. Only Sheffield United, West Ham and Luton Town have conceded more shots on goal.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth previews Manchester United’s attempts to sign a midfielder
There is a dire need for more security in the centre of the pitch, where their opponents have too often found space, and Ugarte could provide that, even if not necessarily as a lone defensive midfielder.
“Before I arrived at Sporting, I liked playing as a number 6, but now I have gotten used to playing with another player next to me,” he said in an interview during his stay in Lisbon. “I am a better player than a year ago,” he added. “I have adapted to different positions.”
The 23-year-old has mainly played as part of a double pivot in Sporting’s midfield, primarily alongside Hidemasa Morita, and it was a similar story last season at Paris-Saint Germain, where he was mainly used alongside Warren Zaire-Emery or Vitinha.
Manuel Ugarte has played primarily as a right midfielder rather than a lone number 6
His presence could help Kobbie Mainoo at United. The youngster enjoyed great success last season, capping a spectacular breakthrough campaign with a standout display and crucial goal in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
But for every one of those attacking forays, such as the one that saw him lay on a Bruno Fernandes pass at Wembley, there was an instance where Mainoo struggled at the other end of the pitch, with his midfield partner Casemiro struggling to cover open spaces.
Ugarte would bring greater physical intensity and he is also good at handling the ball. He is not as adventurous as Casemiro in his passing but he is certainly more effective, with his accuracy rate of around 91 percent being significantly higher than the Brazilian’s 83 percent.
There is still room for improvement in the way he passes between the lines. His conservative passing choices are a source of frustration for PSG coach Luis Enrique.
But his ability to retain possession is undoubtedly another element that attracts him to United. After all, most of the team’s defensive problems last season stemmed from a lack of control in midfield. Casemiro’s ambitious passing was a contributing factor, given how often it resulted in turnovers.
It’s another example of how Ugarte’s tough tackling could help.
