Gus Poyet: ‘I was a little bit upset’ — Man Utd flop told he should have joined Chelsea in ‘perfect’ move
gus poyet has urged Manuel Ugarte to seek a summer exit from Manchester United, saying the midfielder would have been better served by a move to Chelsea and needs a club identity to play regularly. The comments follow Ugarte’s transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester United in August 2024 (ET) and growing discussion about his future at Old Trafford. Poyet framed the situation as a player who has not yet kicked on and now faces a decisive window to rediscover his form.
Key facts and transfer details
Manuel Ugarte joined Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024 (ET) for an initial fee of €50m, with the deal able to rise to €60m on certain conditions. He has struggled for regular starts this season, making nine starts in all competitions, and is understood to be a candidate to move on if Manchester United can find a buyer. Casemiro, Manchester United midfielder, announced in January (ET) that he will leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, a development that has fed speculation Ugarte could also depart if the club reshapes its midfield.
Interest in Ugarte has been reported from multiple quarters: clubs in Italy have been linked with a possible approach, and Gatasaray expressed interest during the January transfer window. Those early inquiries did not become concrete moves at the time, and thus all parties paused further action until the summer window.
Gus Poyet’s reaction
Gus Poyet, Chelsea legend, spoke at length about Ugarte’s trajectory and made clear he wanted the Uruguayan midfielder to have joined Chelsea earlier in his career. Poyet said: “Yeah, and it’s affected me a lot because he’s from Uruguay. Before he went to Paris Saint-Germain, I wanted him to come to Chelsea. When they started the rumours, Chelsea, big Chelsea, you know you want to come, make a decision, come to Chelsea. “
Poyet added: “I was a little bit upset because I thought it was perfect at that time for Chelsea. But after that, he kind of didn’t kick on. Paris Saint-Germain and now Manchester United. He needs to find the right club. ” He assessed Ugarte as a “top central midfielder” capable of covering the pitch, defending well and starting options, but insisted the player must find a team identity to secure weekly starts and regain his national-team position.
What’s next for Ugarte and Manchester United
The coming months constitute a pivotal period for Ugarte. Manchester United holds his registration and could consider offers in the summer transfer window; observers expect movement around his situation if a suitable buyer emerges. Gary Neville, Manchester United legend, has predicted Ugarte could follow Casemiro out of the club this summer, adding to the view that change is likely.
Gus Poyet urged a move that would give Ugarte consistent minutes and a clear team identity. The immediate questions to monitor in the summer window are whether Manchester United will open formal talks, which clubs will present concrete bids, and whether Ugarte can secure a setting that allows him to play every week and restore his international standing. The timeline to watch runs through the summer transfer period, with developments expected to crystallize as clubs finalize plans for the new campaign.
