Fabrizio Romano gives Manchester United fans the Manuel Ugarte transfer news they needed

Manchester United supporters have received the clearest indication yet that Manuel Ugarte’s turbulent spell at Old Trafford is nearing its conclusion, after transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Uruguayan midfielder is expected to leave the club this summer.

Ugarte, 24, arrived from Paris Saint-Germain amid considerable fanfare but has struggled to justify the early hype, failing to nail down a starting role under new manager Michael Carrick. Although Carrick recently offered public praise for the defensive midfielder, team selections have told a different story: Ugarte has been progressively eased out of the XI, with many observers interpreting the move as an attempt to limit the player’s exposure after a string of underwhelming displays.

Romano, citing the utdreport, now states that Ugarte is “could leave the Red Devils this summer,” with Serie A sides already registering tentative interest. Italy’s top flight has developed a reputation for rehabilitating Premier League misfits; the most recent high-profile examples include Scott McTominay, Rasmus Hojlund and Romelu Lukaku, all of whom played pivotal roles in Napoli’s 2024/25 Scudetto triumph.

While elite Italian clubs such as Inter Milan are unlikely to pursue Ugarte at this stage, Romano notes that the Nerazzurri have successfully revived the careers of players written off elsewhere, leaving the door ajar for a surprise swoop. For the moment, mid-table Serie A outfits appear the most probable destination, offering Ugarte an opportunity to rebuild his reputation in a league that prizes tactical discipline.

The irony is hard to ignore: the very qualities that made Ugarte attractive to United during his time at Benfica and PSG—ball-winning aggression, quick transitions and relentless stamina—have rarely been seen in Manchester. Unless Carrick can coax a dramatic upturn in form over the closing weeks of the season, Ugarte’s departure feels inevitable, cementing his status as another expensive Premier League experiment gone awry.

For United, offloading Ugarte would free both salary space and a non-homegrown slot in Erik ten Hag’s squad, allowing the club to redirect resources toward reinforcements better suited to Carrick’s evolving system. For Ugarte, a fresh start in Italy may provide the platform to rediscover the dynamic midfielder who once thrilled audiences in Lisbon and Paris.

Either way, Romano’s update signals that change is on the horizon—and for all parties, it may arrive not a moment too soon.