Sporting fans’ wish could be hijacked by Ajax | OneFootball

Ajax is looking to strengthen its midfield, and the name of Manuel Ugarte has emerged as a highly regarded option for the Dutch club. According to Voetbal International, the former Sporting player—whose return has been requested by the “leoninos” fans—does not oppose a transfer to Amsterdam.

Even so, there are two obstacles that Ajax needs to overcome. First, the Dutch will have to negotiate with Manchester United. Second, the Uruguayan international earns a high salary, which is beyond the financial capabilities of the Dutch club.

Manuel Ugarte is interested in the possibility of playing in the Netherlands, especially considering the limited opportunities to establish himself at Old Trafford, at a time when the World Cup is approaching. In fact, recently, the former Sporting player was even the target of some criticism from Ruben Amorim.

"I have to recover what I used to feel when he was a Sporting player, for example, but it’s a different world, and he needs to adapt and improve, especially in training," emphasized the former coach of the green and whites about the Uruguayan midfielder, who spent two seasons at Alvalade (2021/22 and 2022/23).

The player was signed from PSG in the summer of 2024 for 50 million euros and has also been linked to Galatasaray. This season, Manuel Ugarte—valued at 30 million euros—has played in 16 matches for Manchester United, which until Monday was under the management of Ruben Amorim. The team’s new coach will also have an influence on the midfielder’s future.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.