Poyet's Regret: Ugarte Should Have Chosen Chelsea Over United

Gus Poyet reckons Manuel Ugarte took a wrong turn when he opted for Manchester United instead of Chelsea, with the Uruguayan midfielder failing to make a real impact at Old Trafford.

United forked out an initial €50m to Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024, with the deal potentially climbing to €60m through add-ons. Yet the investment has hardly paid dividends, with Ugarte mustering just nine league and cup starts this season.

The writing appears to be on the wall. Casemiro has already confirmed his departure on a free transfer come summer's end, and Ugarte looks set to follow him out the door if a buyer can be found. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently flagged the midfielder as a potential mover, noting interest from Italian clubs and previous attention from Galatasaray in January.

Poyet, the Chelsea legend, harbours genuine disappointment about how events unfolded. Speaking to Goal, he explained: "Before he went to Paris Saint-Germain, I wanted him to come to Chelsea. When they started the rumours, Chelsea, big Chelsea, you know you want to come, make a decision, come to Chelsea."

The former Blues player admitted he couldn't have reached out to Ugarte directly, but felt the move would have suited perfectly at the time. "I was a little bit upset because I thought it was perfect at that time for Chelsea," he said.

Instead, Ugarte's trajectory has stalled. After failing to truly flourish at PSG, his Manchester United spell has proven equally underwhelming. Poyet sees genuine quality there—a top-class central midfielder capable of reading the game, covering ground, defending solidly, and building play—but the player needs the right environment to thrive.

The situation has become even trickier on the international stage. Ugarte has fallen out of favour with Uruguay, who've shifted to a two-man midfield with an attacking number 10, pushing out the traditional three-midfielder setup where he once featured alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Fede Valverde.

"He needs to find the right club," Poyet stressed. "He needs to find, I would say, the identity of a club to be able to play every week." With a crucial summer window approaching, Ugarte faces a defining moment—the chance to reset his career at a club where he can command regular football and rediscover his best form.