Juventus will sign 24-year-old Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte if the Red Devils are open to sanctioning a loan exit in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte is the subject of interest from Juventus. The inconsistent Serie A giants are keen on bolstering their first-team squad by signing a holding midfielder in the coming months.
However, a summer move will not be straightforward, as the Bianconeri would prefer a loan deal with a purchase option. While the Italian heavyweights “like” Ugarte, the Manchester United midfielder is not a priority target, even though his €4 million-a-year wages are not an issue for them.
Manuel Ugarte and his Manchester United woes
Manuel Ugarte has been a liability since joining Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth €50 million in August 2024. The 24-year-old was already a polarising figure when he arrived at Old Trafford nearly two years ago, as he was dreadful during his stint with PSG. He has not done much to prove his naysayers wrong.
The Uruguayan international has gradually dropped in the pecking order at Manchester United, and he has managed only 915 minutes of game time across 23 outings in all competitions this term. However, Ugarte’s stock remains high, with several well-known clubs setting their sights on him. Juventus will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the upcoming transfer window.
Will Ugarte move to Serie A soon?
Juventus’s interest in Manuel Ugarte makes sense. The struggling Serie A heavyweights are scouring the market for a holding midfielder, as several midfielders face an uncertain future at the Allianz Stadium. While Luciano Spalletti has top-class midfielders like Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli in his squad, they may become cash cows for the Bianconeri if they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Recent reports have claimed that Juventus may be open to selling Thuram, while Locatelli has regularly drawn interest from the Premier League. So, Ugarte has emerged as a viable option to bolster the Italian outfit’s midfield unit, even though he is not a priority target for them.
Ugarte’s €4 million-a-year wages are not an obstacle for Juventus, with the report suggesting it is “impossible to imagine giving him a much lower salary” if he arrives at the Allianz Stadium. However, Manchester United’s willingness to sanction a loan exit for the 24-year-old Uruguayan international will be the pivotal factor to determine a summer deal. Considering the Red Devils’ need to overhaul their midfield unit, it will be surprising to see them agree to a temporary move.