Ugarte tears ACL at World Cup to end any hope of Manchester United summer sale

Manuel Ugarte faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after tearing his ACL during Uruguay’s 1-0 World Cup group-stage defeat to Spain on Friday, a blow that effectively ends Manchester United’s hopes of selling the midfielder this summer.

The 25-year-old landed awkwardly just before half-time and received extended medical treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off in visible distress. Reports from Uruguay indicate an MRI has since confirmed the anterior cruciate ligament injury, though Manchester United stopped short of specifying a return timeline in their official statement.

“Manchester United can confirm that Manuel Ugarte has suffered a knee ligament injury whilst representing Uruguay in Friday’s World Cup group-stage match against Spain,” the club said. “Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the best course of treatment and the rehabilitation timescale. Everyone wishes Manuel a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way.”

Ugarte joined United from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024 but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter, making just eight Premier League appearances last season. He did not feature at all for the club after their home defeat to Leeds in mid-April. Despite that limited impact, he had started all three of Uruguay’s matches at the tournament before his injury curtailed their campaign.

Uruguay’s exit was confirmed by the loss to Spain, which left them with just two points from three Group H games. For Ugarte personally, the timing compounds what had already been a difficult first season in Manchester.

United had been widely expected to move the midfielder on as part of a broader midfield overhaul this summer. The severity of the injury makes that scenario almost impossible to pursue, leaving the club to manage his rehabilitation while reassessing their transfer plans accordingly.