This week, Manchester United decided to part ways with manager Erik ten Hag after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United in the Premier League. Despite extending his contract over the summer, Ten Hag managed to secure only four wins from the first 13 games of the season.
ESPN reported on Monday, citing sources, that the club’s management lost confidence in Ten Hag’s ability to improve the team’s performance after a disappointing start to the campaign.
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim appears to be the candidate the Red Devils will appoint, but nothing is official. Nonetheless, if the Premier League side does hire him, one former Paris Saint-Germain player could benefit from this potential hiring.
PSG sold Ugarte to Manchester United this past summer for a reported €50 million, with another €10 million possible in add-ons and a 10 percent sell-on clause. The Uruguayan’s start at Old Trafford has been challenging, but TEAMTalk believes that the coaching change could benefit Ugarte.
“The last signing of the Ten Hag era, Ugarte joined United from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer in a deal worth an initial £42.1million,” the outlet noted.
“But the midfielder didn’t break into Ten Hag’s side, making just one start and three substitute appearances in the Premier League. He will get more opportunities under Amorim, who signed the Uruguay international from Famalicao in the summer of 2021.
“Ugarte established himself as one of the best ball-winning midfielders in Europe during his two years at Sporting and was named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year in 2022/23. His impressive performances under Amorim earned him a £51.3million move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023.”