The Mystery of Manchester United's Hardworking Midfielder Becoming a Jinx Revealed! Leaves Training Ground Earliest, Team Loses Whenever He Plays

The Uruguayan national team will play a friendly against England at Wembley on Friday. Manchester United midfielder Ugarte has been selected for the squad. Speaking about his peripheral role at the club, he joked with ESPN: "Very few players can play every single match, maybe only Valverde can. That's a situation you have to learn to handle, it's part of a career. I've learned a lot, I know my chance will come eventually, all I can do now is train hard."

Ugarte's words are puzzling because not playing every match and never playing a full match are vastly different; his situation is the latter. Moreover, according to British media reports, despite claiming a year ago that he was "imitating" Casemiro, Ugarte is actually the player who leaves Carrington training ground earliest.

Manchester United's training usually starts at 9 a.m. and ends at noon. Ugarte arrives early like most teammates. However, by 12:15 p.m., he is already back home in Cheshire. Some teammates stay longer at Carrington, leaving after dark in winter. United activated a £50 million upgraded first-team training center last summer, with modern facilities.

This is completely different from Casemiro. When "Fat Tiger" was sidelined, he intensified fitness training, improved his physique, and regained his starting spot. The 34-year-old Brazilian veteran always returns to training early and is among the last to leave. This is thought to relate to his girlfriend, Georgía Mejís, former partner of Mbappé, but the "hero succumbs to beauty" theory is hard to verify.

Regardless, Ugarte and Casemiro's fortunes have diverged. 13 months ago, Ugarte missed the Tottenham match due to injury, while Casemiro returned to the starting lineup after 48 days. Subsequently, Casemiro started 43 of 55 games for United, Ugarte only 23. Casemiro's 6 missed games were for rotation, 2 for suspensions; Ugarte's absences were mostly tactical choices.

It's no coincidence that successive United managers have been dissatisfied with Ugarte. This includes Ruben Amorim, who worked with him at Sporting CP. Amorim gave Ugarte chances: in 5 preseason friendlies last summer, Ugarte and Casemiro rotated, but Ugarte performed poorly, especially in the final match against Everton, which foreshadowed Casemiro becoming the main starter.

When Ugarte got starting opportunities, his performances were unsatisfactory. This showed from his first start: in the League Cup against Grimsby Town (a fourth-tier team), Ugarte was substituted after 45 minutes with United trailing 0-2, and he watched the rest from the bench.

British media reveal that United's €60 million signing of Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain might have been a forced move. Correspondent Andy Mitten said: "Ten Hag wanted to buy Amrabat permanently, but United ended up signing Ugarte. This might be linked to the Lenny Yoro deal, as both are clients of super-agent Jorge Mendes."

Ten Hag did not rate Ugarte highly. So when the Dutchman was sacked and Amorim took over, Ugarte thought this reunion would change his fate. However, Amorim, who admired Ugarte at Sporting, expressed disappointment with his current form, saying he's not the same player.

Michael Carrick, who replaced Amorim, praised Ugarte highly: "I really like Manuel (Ugarte). He's been excellent in the squad, his attitude, our relationship, and his training level are all very good. He has many great qualities. When the team wins, players who don't play much face challenges; getting into the lineup is tougher, everyone must motivate each other."

But since Carrick said this a month ago, Ugarte has been benched for 4 consecutive matches. Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo have started all 11 games under Carrick and likely will continue until Champions League qualification is secured.

Carrick's choice is understandable. He may not follow social media, but he knows Ugarte's appearances almost correlate with conceding goals and losing! After the September international break, United visited Manchester City; Amorim wanted to strengthen defense and started Ugarte, resulting in a 0-3 defeat. Two weeks later, Casemiro was suspended, Ugarte started at Brentford, another three-goal loss.

Ugarte, turning 25 next month, has become United's "jinx." When he stands ready to come on, everyone worries. This isn't superstition; data supports it. This season, Ugarte started 9 times, United won only once; the team conceded 24 goals while he was on the pitch, 9 of those after he was substituted in.

This contrasts sharply with the reception Ugarte received before United's match against Liverpool in September 2024. Old Trafford stood applauding, legend Paul Scholes shook his hand, many fans thought he was the tough defensive midfielder long missing, Casemiro's successor.

Now, when Ugarte carries a carry-on suitcase to Bournemouth for a match, British media joke many United fans wish he'd take a suitcase and leave permanently. Ugarte is indeed considering leaving; though he speaks politely, he's naturally unhappy. United is also willing to sell; an offer of €30-35 million could seal the deal.

United signed Ugarte for €60 million, €50 million fixed, on a 5-year contract. After this summer, 3 years remain. From financial rules, selling for €30 million would break even on the books.

The British "Sun" revealed Ugarte repeatedly gave photographers the middle finger last season, criticized as improper. United insisted he did it targeting professional autograph hunters. British media mocked this, noting at away games like Vitality Stadium, almost no fans asked for his autograph.

When United players step off the team bus, waiting fans usually cheer loudly, but when Ugarte appears, it's silent, as if an unknown staff member arrived, completely ignored.