Overview
- United greats Nicky Butt and Rio Ferdinand questioned Manuel Ugarte’s quality and impact, with Butt saying he is not a Manchester United midfielder "in a million years."
- Ugarte has struggled since his £50m move from PSG in 2024, registering limited Premier League starts after admitting earlier in the season that his form had dipped.
- Turkish reports link Galatasaray with a January loan move including an option to buy, with local journalists claiming personal terms have been agreed.
- Those claims are contested, as ESPN’s Mark Ogden reports United do not plan January signings or major exits and that Michael Carrick will work with the current squad, including Ugarte.
- Ferdinand framed Ugarte’s revival as a key early challenge for Carrick, urging the interim coach to lift both individual performances and the team’s overall level.