Manuel Ugarte has already come under fire at Old Trafford (Image: Getty)
Manchester United new signing Manuel Ugarte has been slammed by Dutch legend Marco van Basten.
The Uruguay international joined the Red Devils on deadline day from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £51million, but he has endured a slow start to life at Old Trafford.
The midfielder has been tasked with solving United’s concerns in the middle but has struggled to adapt to his new role as of yet, making five appearances in all competitions and starting just three matches.
The Red Devils’ midfield concerns have been a prevalent problem for Erik ten Hag since his arrival at United, but fellow Dutchman Van Basten has questioned what the ex-Ajax boss has seen in Ugarte to justify bringing him to the Theatre of Dreams.
Speaking on Ziggo Sport, Van Basten said: “It’s crazy how much Erik Ten Hag has decided to invest in players who aren’t even good. I saw a new player transferred to Manchester, Manuel Ugarte, for €50m. How can this guy be here? It’s bizarre.”
Van Basten was then quizzed on whether it is fair for him to make such a harsh judgement so early in Ugarte’s United career, being asked: “But you only watched two games of him so far?”
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Marco van Basten has questioned United’s decision to sign Ugarte (Image: Getty)
The former Netherlands international replied: “Yes, and I only needed those two games to see that he’s not even worth 25 per cent of that amount.”
Several stars have been tasked with trying to be the lynchpin of United’s midfield behind Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes previously, and Ugarte will be hoping he can end the trend of players failing to do so.
However, Red Devils icon Paul Scholes is concerned that the ex-Sporting ace is already not playing regularly under Ten Hag, having been an unused substitute against Aston Villa and FC Porto in United’s last two matches.
Erik ten Hag reshuffled his ranks markedly over the summer (Image: Getty)
He told Premier League Productions: “He (Ten Hag) is buying players to improve the squad. This Ugarte is a prime example. He has brought him in to improve this team. Now, after two games, he isn’t playing. There has to be something fundamentally wrong with that.
“The players they go in for, it seems like they are too easy to get. They aren’t players that you aren’t competing with an Arsenal, Manchester City, Barcelona or a Real Madrid for these players anymore. You are bringing in players that aren’t playing for their teams. You think of de Ligt at Bayern, he couldn’t get into the team. Ugarte at PSG, he couldn’t get into the team.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1959276/Man-Utd-news-Manuel-Ugarte-Marco-van-Basten