Midfielder is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after knee ligament injury
Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte is likely to be out for nine to twelve months after suffering a serious knee injury that ended his World Cup.
The 25-year-old suffered serious ligament damage to his left knee and was carried off on a stretcher during the first half of Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in their final World Cup Group H match.
United are handling the treatment of the midfielder but he is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. According to sources, Ugarte’s injury will certainly keep him out for the rest of the year at the very least, and the expectation is that he will miss nine to 12 months.
Ugarte himself described his injury as “the most serious injury a footballer can face”, although he vowed to return “stronger”.
“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 teammates until the final whistle, is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” Ugarte said at the time on Instagram.
The player’s absence for such a long period means that United will be unable to transfer him out, whether permanently or on loan, as they might have done had he remained fit. After two years at the club, the Uruguayan simply has not been able to perform at required levels.
However, despite having to retain him, United now also have an additional hole in their midfield that needs filling. So far, the club have only managed to agree a deal for Atalanta’s Brazilian midfielder Ederson.
“Hitting rock bottom will make me stronger in every sense, and I truly believe that’s the case here,” Ugarte added in his statement. “Without a doubt, when life wants you to stop, it finds a way to let you know.
“It’s up to me to take the positives from this. Success in life is about starting again every time you fall. I’ll be back stronger.”
