Manuel Ugarte has turned to a psychologist to help him cope with his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury at the World Cup. The Manchester United midfielder has been out of action since the injury, with no timeframe set for his return.
The 25-year-old was hurt in an unfortunate collision with his own team-mate Mathias Olivera during Uruguay's 1-0 loss to Spain. Olivera got to the ball first before tumbling onto Ugarte's outstretched leg, leaving the midfielder in tears as he was carried from the field on a stretcher.
Ugarte returned to Manchester and underwent successful surgery before starting his recovery over the summer. He told ESPN (via Sport Witness): "He helps me a lot because he makes me look beyond the day-to-day."
Mental approach
Ugarte explained that the psychologist has helped him manage his emotions during the recovery process. "Sometimes you get angry about things that happen during the day which aren't worth it. We always talk a lot about everything, not just sport, but also on a personal level," he said.
"That helps me become aware of what I've achieved, where I am, and I really enjoy it. The hours fly by because we talk about everything. We talk a lot about books."
He added: "It's a huge help. Behind an athlete there's a person. How you perform, work and act in sport is directly related to your personal life, so it's something important and I'm very happy to continue working with him."
Wages covered and transfer speculation
During Ugarte's spell on the sidelines, FIFA's Club Protection Programme has met his wages after he was ruled out for a minimum of 28 consecutive days. The initiative covers a player's salary up to a ceiling of €7.5million (£6.6m) until they are deemed fit enough to re-join their club.
United brought in three midfielders over the summer transfer window in Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba. The new signings have sparked speculation surrounding Ugarte's future, though he will need to wait until at least the January transfer window for any potential departure.
After arriving from Paris Saint-Germain for £42million in 2024, the midfielder penned a deal that extends until the summer of 2029.
