Manuel Ugarte insists he is ready to come straight into the Manchester United first-team following the international break and deliver a much-needed boost in midfield.
The Uruguay international completed his move from Paris Saint-Germain last week in a deal that could rise to £50.8million, becoming the club’s fifth signing of a busy summer transfer window.
The midfielder did not arrive in time to be registered in time for Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool, however, introduced to the Old Trafford crowd ahead of kick-off.
United’s shortcomings in midfield were woefully exposed that afternoon with Casemiro enduring a disastrous first-half, at fault for both of Luis Diaz’s goals.
The Brazil international was brought off at half-time, replaced by 20-year-old Toby Collyer who joined 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.
Ugarte will be available when United return to action against Southampton on 14 but after a busy summer at the Copa America and with no pre-season training under his belt, ten Hag has warned it could be ‘weeks or months’ before he settles into the side.
‘If you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn’t play so far in the season,’ the United boss said. ‘Not one match minute. So he needs to build his fitness and then we have to build him in the team and I’m sure he’ll be an important player.
‘But that will take a couple of weeks, maybe even months.’
Following his unveiling in Manchester on Sunday, Ugarte returned to Uruguay for matches against Paraguay and Venezuela.
Despite his manager’s concerns, ten Hag insists he is ready to come straight into the United side following the international break.
“I’m very happy, very hungry and very excited,” Ugarte said, Directvsports report.
‘I feel very good, I have prepared myself. The truth is that I haven’t played many minutes since the season began, but physically I feel very good.’
Ugarte was eager to make the move to Old Trafford having agreed personal terms with the club back in July. Protracted negotiations with PSG delayed the move until the final week of the transfer window with the 23-year-old sold on the new project in place in Manchester.
‘It was a difficult month, I had to calm my anxiety a little, but now I am very happy, thrilled, hungry and excited,’ Ugarte told ESPN.
‘It is a team in change, because new owners came, the project is very good , I love the atmosphere on a day-to-day basis, the desire to succeed that exists in the team and the history that the club has.’