The fallout from Manchester United's 1-1 draw at rivals Leeds on Sunday has taken an unexpected turn, with midfielder Manuel Ugarte becoming an unlikely target for online ridicule. The focus shifted from manager Ruben Amorim's subsequent dismissal to a viral clip of the Uruguayan's pre-match warm-up.
Viral Clip Sparks Social Media Frenzy
Ahead of the Elland Road clash, broadcaster TNT Sports captured the United squad's routine passing drills. The footage showed Ugarte and defender Lisandro Martinez exchanging short passes. However, Ugarte's technique, with several passes failing to stay on the ground, quickly became a source of mockery on social media platform X.
One user quipped, "Closest we'll ever get to a random civilian playing in the Prem," while another agreed, "Someone said Ugarte is the closest thing to what if a regular person played in the Prem and he was so right." The criticism escalated sharply, with one account labelling the 24-year-old an "awful footballer" and claiming their varsity teammates possessed better passing ability.
Others lamented the injury absence of Kobbie Mainoo, with one post stating, "Easily one of worst players to play for Man Utd in the Premier League. Kobbie Mainoo must be cursing his luck that he's not fit to play."
Amorim's Defence and Ugarte's Performance
Despite the embarrassing warm-up moment, Ugarte delivered a solid performance on the pitch during the match itself. He started in midfield for the fourth consecutive game, a necessity due to injuries to Mainoo and captain Bruno Fernandes.
According to statistics from SofaScore, Ugarte recorded 70 touches, completed 40 of his 49 passes (an 82% success rate), and won nine of his 13 ground duels. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, then-manager Ruben Amorim praised the midfielder's display. "I think Ugarte is playing better," Amorim said. "Ugarte is showing that he has more to give and I'm really pleased for Ugarte. So if these guys play well, we have always the chance to win the game."
Future at Old Trafford Remains Uncertain
The £51m signing from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024 has had a mixed start to his United career. While he showed improvement at Leeds, the club's overall form remains a concern, with just one win in their last four Premier League games.
Furthermore, Ugarte's long-term future at Old Trafford is in doubt. Reports, including those in the Daily Mail Sport's Window Watch, indicate that Turkish side Galatasaray are interested in securing his services. The social media storm, while focused on a brief moment, adds to the scrutiny on a player still seeking to cement his place at the club.
The incident highlights the intense, often unforgiving spotlight on players at elite clubs, where even routine training moments can be dissected and used as a measure of a player's worth, regardless of their actual in-match contributions.
