Ugarte faces most of 2026-27 season on sidelines after knee ligament injury at World Cup

Manuel Ugarte faces an extended spell on the sidelines after tearing knee ligaments during Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat to Spain at the World Cup on Saturday, a blow that is expected to rule the Manchester United midfielder out for most of the 2026-27 season.

The 25-year-old twisted awkwardly while making a challenge in the build-up to Alex Baena’s winning goal and was carried off on a stretcher. Uruguay’s medical staff have assessed the injury, and Ugarte will now travel to Manchester for further tests.

Posting on Instagram for the first time since the incident, Ugarte described it as “the most serious injury a footballer can face” and acknowledged the emotional weight of it happening in such a significant match. “Suffering the most serious injury a footballer can face in one of the most important matches in my country’s history, and seeing it end this way without being able to stay on the pitch and support my team-mates until the final whistle, is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” he wrote.

Despite the setback, the former Paris Saint-Germain man struck a defiant tone. “Hitting rock bottom will make me stronger in every sense, and I truly believe that’s the case here,” he added. “Success in life is about starting again every time you fall. I’ll be back stronger.”

The injury significantly disrupts United’s summer planning. The club had intended to sell Ugarte this window, but finding a buyer for a player facing the best part of a year on the treatment table will prove extremely difficult.

His absence also leaves manager Michael Carrick short of options in central midfield. With Casemiro having departed, Kobbie Mainoo is currently the only senior recognised central midfielder at the club. United are in talks with Atalanta over a £35 million deal for Ederson, with West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott also among their targets.

One midfield target, Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, appears to be heading elsewhere — Manchester City are reported to have agreed a £116 million deal for the player, a record fee for a British footballer.