Amorim's Dressing Room Blast Leaves United Stars Stunned
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim left members of his first-team squad in a state of shock following last season's Europa League final defeat, after he delivered a brutal public dressing down to midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
The incident occurred in the aftermath of United's 1-0 loss to Tottenham in Bilbao, a performance widely described as insipid and toothless. The defeat ensured a miserable campaign ended without silverware and, crucially, without qualification for European competition.
The Target: Manuel Ugarte
Uruguay international Ugarte, a £42 million signing from Paris Saint-Germain in January, was expected to make an immediate impact given his previous working relationship with Amorim at Sporting Lisbon.
However, the combative midfielder has struggled to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League. According to a report from The Athletic, Amorim did not hold back in a team meeting following the final, telling Ugarte he had become far too comfortable in his new surroundings.
The manager stated that the player's lax attitude had made him unrecognisable from the determined individual he had once coached in Portugal. This chastening rebuke was delivered in front of Ugarte's stunned teammates, in the same meeting where Alejandro Garnacho was informed his future lay away from Old Trafford.
Fallout and Future Uncertainties
Despite this harsh intervention, Ugarte has so far failed to win his manager's full confidence. The evidence is in his playing time; he has managed just nine appearances this season, the majority of those from the substitutes' bench.
His long-term future at the club now appears anything but assured. With United's more recent signings making positive contributions, the next phase of the club's seismic rebuild is likely to focus on strengthening the midfield department.
The Red Devils maintain a strong interest in several targets, including:
- Carlos Baleba (Brighton)
- Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
- Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace and England)
However, former United striker Louis Saha has voiced significant concerns about a potential £100 million move for Wharton, labelling such a transfer a 'huge risk' in a dangerously inflated market.
