Since arriving in the Portuguese Championship in January 2021, Manuel Ugarte has scored just one goal against Rio Ave with Famalicao, on February 21, 2021. In two seasons with Sporting Portugal, he has never scored. A very weak offensive performance did not dampen the enthusiasm of Paris Saint-Germain. The French champions have just offered the Uruguay €60m. A large amount, but justified by other qualities. “I don’t think it’s a problem (his poor attacking contribution). Its main function is defense and that is its great virtue,” said Ángel Astigiante, a journalist for Uruguayan media. El Pais.
The Twitter account DataScott, which analyzed his performance, said he had a “very polarizing picture”. They are completely harmless in the last 30 meters, but very effective in winning defensive duels. He is the player who has won the most first seven tournaments on the UEFA Index this season, with more than seven per match. His manner of defending while standing is also noteworthy. Unlike Marco Verratti, who has an annoying tendency to use too many sliding tackles.
Ugarte’s defensive gloom led him to make a lot of interceptions, an average of more than eight per game. Angel Asteggiante also emphasizes its “tactical application and organization”. Stop punishing. This is one of his points in common with Marco Verratti, he makes more mistakes and takes more cards than average (11 yellow cards in the league this season). We didn’t expect anything else from Uruguay.
Beautiful artwork
Manuel Ugarte is not just a ball-carrier. He also knows how to handle leather. “He has already shown that from a technical point of view he can be important in the team game” estimated Ángel Astigiante, backed by stats. A good dribbler, but he does most of the time in his own half of the field to get rid of pressure from his opponents. In January, against Benfica (2-2), he was very comfortable and crushed his direct opponent, the Argentine bought 121 million euros from Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez. During the Champions League match against Tottenham on October 26 (1-1), he played a strong game and showed a large part of his qualities, especially in dribbling.
Qualities he’d never exploit in favor of attacking but could prove invaluable if PSG’s new coach Luis Enrique asked him to develop higher on the ground in selection – 8 caps, he was at the World Cup in Qatar but he did . Doesn’t play – Often associated with Matias Vecino, who supports Real Madrid player Federico Valverde. And he did not appear on the latest list of Marcelo Bielsa, the new coach of Celeste. A choice that may sound surprising but is justified by the fact that El Loco decided to call up only players you don’t know to test them out during this rally.
Luis Enrique will be able to make Ugarte his “needy service”. A role that many players have failed to truly fill in recent seasons in DC..
