The fallout of Manchester United’s 1-1 draw at rivals Leeds saw the spotlight shine brightly on Ruben Amorim, prior to his dismissal on Monday morning, but one of his now-former players was caught in its glare too.
Ahead of the Elland Road encounter, the United squad underwent their warm-up which included some short passing drills.
An unassuming exercise, this was captured by broadcaster TNT Sports with Manuel Ugarte and Lisandro Martinez passing the ball between one and another.
However, the technique of the former has been ridiculed on social media – with many criticising his passes into Martinez – with some of them not remaining on the ground.
‘Closest we’ll ever get to a random civilian playing in the Prem,’ wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter.
Another also remarked: ‘Someone said Ugarte is the closest thing to what if a regular person played in the Prem and he was so right.’
Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has been criticised for his passing in a warm-up
His passes to Lisandro Martinez were shown by TNT Sports, leading to a social-media mockery
The 24-year-old’s short ground passes were going airborne, leading to fans lament him on X
Some went further, with one labelling the Uruguayan an ‘awful footballer’ and claiming that their ‘varsity team-mates can pass a ball better’.
‘Ugarte has the worst touch in the entire top five leagues,’ the account wrote. ‘He’s actually an awful footballer, most of my varsity team-mates can pass a ball better than this guy.’
‘I know of 20 Sunday League midfielders with better passing and touch than Ugarte,’ wrote another.
Someone else lamented Kobbie Mainoo’s current injury, wishing he was playing instead of the Uruguayan.
‘Don’t listen to Owen Hargreaves. Just watch Manuel Ugarte struggle to pass the ball 10 yards.
‘Easily one of worst players to play for Man Utd in the Premier League. Kobbie Mainoo must be cursing his luck that he’s not fit to play… #MUFC,’ they put.
Another simply put, ‘Good Lord, look at those touches’.
Despite the warm-up, Ugarte had one of his better games in midfield for United since joining in a £51m transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024.
Speaking after the match, Amorim praised the 24-year-old for his display telling TNT Sports: ‘I think [Manuel] Ugarte is playing better. Ugarte is showing that he has more to give and I’m really pleased for Ugarte.
‘So if these guys play well, we have always the chance to win the game.’
Ugarte started in midfield for United once again as they drew 1-1 at Leeds on Sunday afternoon
It was his fourth-straight start for the Red Devils in midfield with injuries to Mainoo and captain Bruno Fernandes depleting Amorim’s options there.
Stats from SofaScore, show he recorded 70 touches, completed 40 of his 49 passes and won nine of his 13 ground duels.
However, more dropped points means United have only one of their last four games – a nervy 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
Ugarte’s future at Old Trafford remains in doubt though with Galalatasary interested in the midfielder, as reported in Daily Mail Sport’s Window Watch article.
