Whitwell: Ratcliffe accepts defeat, he now wants to sell player signed under INEOS’ ownership ASAP

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Stretty News

·23. April 2026

Whitwell: Ratcliffe accepts defeat, he now wants to sell player signed under INEOS’ ownership ASAP

Keen not to drag out the player’s tenure any longer than it needs to be, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is of the belief that Manuel Ugarte should be sold this summer.

That’s according to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, who has revealed that Ratcliffe came to the conclusion after watching the Uruguayan’s shoddy display from the directors’ box for Manchester United’s defeat to Leeds United earlier this month.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Carrington on Monday, as summer plans become clearer with Champs Lge finance close. Elliot Anderson tops midfield list but Man City interest + Forest's £125m fee complicating. Carlos Baleba genuine possibility as alternative ⬇️ #MUFC
– Donnerstag, 23. April 2026

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How Ugarte has fared as of late

Ugarte made his first start under Michael Carrick due to Kobbie Mainoo being injured, and proceeded to extend a dismal run of winning only once in his last 10 starts.

With no other midfielders available on the night, the 25-year-old played the full 90 minutes as United slumped to a 2-1 loss against their arch-rivals.

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Unsurprisingly, when Mainoo returned for the clash with Chelsea in the subsequent fixture, Ugarte was an unused substitute, and the Reds won 1-0 away from home.

Ugarte’s Premier League record since Carrick was appointed

The Montevideo native signed for United back in August 2024 – INEOS’ first summer transfer window as part-owners – in a £50.5 million switch from Paris Saint-Germain.

United shelled out £42m upfront to get the deal over the line, after which Ugarte put pen to paper on a five-year deal in M16.

However, it now looks as though his terms will be cut short after only two years, with the club adamant about parting ways in the coming months.

Who’s likely to be interested in Ugarte this summer?

In regard to where Ugarte might end up, he has garnered interest from the likes of Ajax and Galatasaray, as well as a handful of suitors in Serie A.

It remains to be seen how much the board will demand for his signature, especially given it’s now public knowledge that they want to wash their hands of him as swiftly as possible.