Ratcliffe's Ugarte Exit Plan Faces Uphill Battle as United Wrestle with £50.5m Midfielder Problem

Manchester United's co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe may find himself frustrated in his bid to move Manuel Ugarte on this summer, with the club facing a considerable challenge in finding a buyer for the struggling midfielder.

Since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain for £50.5 million in 2024, Ugarte has failed to justify his price tag. The 25-year-old Uruguayan has managed just 69 appearances for the club, contributing two goals and six assists—hardly the return expected from a player of his calibre.

Ratcliffe has made clear his desire to see Ugarte depart in the 2026 transfer window, particularly after witnessing an unconvincing display against Leeds United at Old Trafford in April. However, the reality on the ground presents complications. United's hierarchy is understood to view Ugarte as a difficult proposition to shift, with internal acceptance that moving him will prove problematic. The midfielder has endured a particularly thin run of minutes recently, appearing only sporadically since that Leeds defeat a month ago across five subsequent outings.

Yet there remains some movement on the exit front. Turkish outfit Galatasaray are reportedly among the leading candidates to secure Ugarte's signature, with United keen to engineer a sale before his market value erodes further. Questions have already been raised in Paris about why United were prepared to spend £50 million on a player who occupied a peripheral role at PSG, particularly given his technical limitations.

Ugarte himself has signalled openness to a summer departure. Speaking this week, the midfielder indicated his priority has been the World Cup, describing a difficult campaign at Old Trafford but expressing willingness to embrace whatever opportunity emerges. He acknowledged the year wasn't ideal but suggested he's learned valuable lessons and remains ready for the next chapter.

With his contract running through summer 2029—plus an extension option—time remains on United's side, though the clock is ticking on Ratcliffe's preferred timeline.