Horror injury leaves United with major headache – will Ugarte miss entire next season?

Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee ligament injury while representing Uruguay at the World Cup. The setback occurred during Friday's 1-0 defeat to Spain, a result that brought Uruguay's campaign to an abrupt end in the group stage.

The Premier League club confirmed the extent of the injury on Saturday, revealing that the 24-year-old will undergo further examinations before a treatment plan and recovery timeline are established.

Ugarte has described the injury he sustained while representing Uruguay at the World Cup as "the most serious injury a footballer can face." While the club is still awaiting the results of further medical assessments, multiple Uruguayan outlets report that the 24-year-old has torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). According to Uruguayan journalist Rodri Vazquez, Ugarte is expected to be sidelined for between nine and 12 months, making surgery virtually unavoidable.

The official statement read: "Manchester United can confirm that Manuel Ugarte has suffered a knee ligament injury whilst representing Uruguay in Friday's World Cup group-stage match against Spain. Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the best course of treatment and the rehabilitation timescale. Everyone wishes Manuel a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way."

Ugarte was forced off in the closing moments of the first half after appearing to twist his knee while closing down Spain midfielder Pedri at Guadalajara Stadium. Just minutes later, Alex Baena scored what proved to be the decisive goal for Luis de la Fuente's side.

The Uruguayan was clearly emotional as he left the field on a stretcher, covering his face with his shirt while medical staff assisted him off the pitch. The defeat left Uruguay third in Group H on just two points, ending their World Cup journey before the knockout rounds.

Before the injury, Ugarte had started all three of Uruguay's group-stage fixtures. However, his club season had been far less straightforward. Since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth an initial €50 million, with another €10 million available in bonuses, the midfielder has struggled to establish himself as an automatic starter at Old Trafford.

He featured in only six of Manchester United's final 16 Premier League matches during the 2025-26 season and started just one of those games.

Former United manager Ruben Amorim previously admitted the midfielder was "struggling" and insisted he "must improve," adding that adapting to the Premier League is a "different world" compared to playing in France and Portugal.

With three years still remaining on his contract, the injury represents another significant obstacle in Ugarte's bid to cement his place in United's plans. The club will now wait for the results of additional medical tests before determining how long he will be unavailable.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are expected to strengthen their midfield during the summer transfer window. Following Casemiro's departure as a free agent, bringing in reinforcements has become one of the club's key priorities ahead of the new campaign.