ATLANTA – Fresh off Uruguay’s early elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, English Premier League side Manchester United has confirmed disappointing injury news for one of their key midfield signings: Uruguayan international Manuel Ugarte has been diagnosed with knee ligament damage sustained during his nation’s final group stage match.
The injury occurred in the opening 45 minutes of Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat to Spain on Friday, a result that sealed the two-time World Cup champions’ exit from the tournament before the knockout round. Ugarte, a consistent starter for Uruguay throughout the group stage, featured in all three of the side’s group matches, but the campaign ended in disappointment for both the player and his national team.
In an official statement released Sunday, Manchester United confirmed that medical teams are still conducting further assessments to finalize a treatment plan and map out an expected timeline for Ugarte’s rehabilitation. “Everyone at the club wishes Manuel a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way,” the statement added.
Ugarte’s injury caps off a thoroughly underwhelming tournament for Uruguay, which failed to secure a single win across its three group fixtures. The underperforming side was forced to share points with lower-ranked underdogs Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, a result that left the squad outside the top two of their group. The disappointing campaign even prompted outgoing head coach Marcelo Bielsa to publicly admit he felt he had left no meaningful positive impact on Uruguayan soccer during his tenure in charge of the national team.
Beyond the disappointment for Uruguay’s World Cup run, Ugarte’s injury also creates unexpected disruption for Manchester United’s pre-season preparations. The club is set to return to UEFA Champions League competition for the upcoming season after a two-year absence from the tournament, and the defensive midfielder was expected to be a critical piece of manager Erik ten Hag’s squad for the domestic and European campaign.