MANUEL UGARTE was involved in an awkward interaction with new boss Erik ten Hag.
Ugarte, 23, was announced as a Manchester United player on transfer deadline day and revealed to fans at Old Trafford on Sunday.
After arriving at the club’s Carrington training base, Ugarte and Ten Hag were filmed heading indoors.
However, before they got inside the Dutch coach could be heard speaking to his new defensive midfielder.
An in apparent effort to hype up Ugarte in front of the cameras, he said: “This guy brings us the fight!”
But Ugarte wasn’t clear who the former Ajax manager was referring to and confusingly answered: “Who?”
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Ten Hag, 54, then responded: “You”
After the crossed wires were cleared up, Ugarte said: “It’s normal for me, [to] fight!”
Fans were stunned at the interaction, with one user writing on social media: “Tough watch that.”
A second said: “Fight?? Did we sign Conor Mcgregor or a football player?”
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A third added: “Ugarte didn’t even know who’s Erik ten Hag talking about.”
Another said: “That’s awkward…”
The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder signed for United in a deal that could reach £51million.
And it is hoped he can help to plug holes in midfield where his peers have struggled.
Ugarte’s numbers paint a promising picture in that regard.
His defensive stats including tackling and interceptions are better than United’s current defensive midfielder, Casemiro.
The Brazilian had a howler of a game when Liverpool visited Old Trafford, though he was not helped by the structural flaws in the Red Devils’ gameplan.
The 32-year-old gave the ball away for Liverpool’s opener before he was too easily dispossessed for their second moments later.
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Kobbie Mainoo was then caught out in the second half for the final nail in the coffin of the 3-0 defeat.
United travel to Southampton away after the international break in the hope that they can get back to winning ways.
Manuel Ugarte the next Roy Keane
By PHIL THOMAS
NEARLY two decades have passed since Roy Keane led Manchester United into battle for the final time.
It left a gap in the engine room that the Red Devils have never really come close to filling in the 19 years that have followed.
Many tried and some managed it in flashes and, although the trophies still rolled in for a time, there was no snarling, bring-it-on warrior prowling the midfield.
Until now… until the imminent capture of a man who views a 50-50 challenge like a starving Labrador staring at a side of ham.
For three months, United have licked their own lips at the prospect of a midfield marshalled by Uruguayan tough guy Manuel Ugarte.
Finally, they have their man.
Ugarte is pretty much a ball-winner pure and simple.
Rarely will you see him pinging 40-yard passes to split a defence.
But ending his days with half the reputation of Keane and a fraction of his silverware would still mean a hell of a career.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
