The 25-year-old was taken off on a stretcher against Spain. Lars Baron / Getty ImagesJuly 15, 2026 8:12 am EDT Updated Manchester United have confirmed that Manuel Ugarte has undergone surgery to treat a knee ligament injury he sustained playing for Uruguay at the World Cup.The Athletic reported on June 28 that the 25-year-old was set for an extended absence after suffering the injury.Ugarte was taken off on a stretcher in Uruguay’s final group stage game against Spain on June 26 after appearing to land awkwardly while preparing for a challenge on Pedri. He was visibly emotional as he was carried off the pitch, pulling his shirt over his face, and said two days later that the timing of the injury “is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life”.In a statement on Wednesday, United confirmed that Ugarte would begin rehabilitation after undergoing surgery, adding that he will be “carefully managed by the club’s medical and performance staff”.
Ugarte started all three of Uruguay’s matches as they were eliminated in the group stage for the second time in a row.Ugarte has made 69 appearances in all competitions for United, scoring two goals and recording six assists, since joining in 2025 from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth €50million (£43.1m; $56.9m) plus a further €10m in add-ons.However, he featured just 24 times last season, only making 10 starts and not appearing in the club’s last six matches of the campaign.United have already moved to strengthen their midfield following Ugarte’s injury and Casemiro’s departure after the expiration of his contract. On Monday, Michael Carrick’s side completed the signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m plus £2m in easily achievable bonuses, before announcing the arrival of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa on Tuesday after activating a release clause in the region of £35m in the Belgium international’s contract.
