Ugarte is almost certainly confirmed to have an ACL tear, which may force Manchester United to make a signing. If he is sidelined for a year, they could receive £5 million in compensation.

Manchester United had hoped Manuel Ugarte would shine at the World Cup to facilitate his summer sale, but not only did he fail to achieve that goal, he also suffered a severe injury during Uruguay's tearful 0-1 defeat to Spain, being carried off on a stretcher. According to Uruguayan journalist Rodri Vázquez, the Red Devils' defensive midfielder has already undergone an MRI scan in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The specific results are not yet available, but it is highly likely to confirm a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee.

Injury experts analyze that Ugarte's right-footed interception miss caused his left knee to twist, resulting in knee valgus and a non-contact rotational movement—signs that strongly suggest a cruciate ligament tear, possibly with meniscus damage as well. Additionally, abnormal fluctuations in his calf muscles are often another indicator of such a ligament injury.

Ugarte's recovery is expected to take between 9 and 12 months. This is undoubtedly bad news for both Uruguay and Manchester United, especially the Red Devils. Reports indicate that Ugarte will travel to Europe for treatment and decide his future alongside the club.

According to BBC News, Manchester United are awaiting further details on the severity of Ugarte's injury, with Uruguay's medical team expected to provide an update soon. Uruguay's World Cup campaign is now over, and attention has shifted to Ugarte's future, as many had anticipated the 25-year-old midfielder would leave United this summer. However, this injury will likely prevent that plan from materializing.

A long-term injury will make it impossible for the player to leave, which will undoubtedly severely impact Manchester United's midfield plans for this summer. It is understood that, given the potentially serious nature of the injury, United are currently more focused on Ugarte's health than on his future transfer.

However, Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano stated that Ugarte's injury might force Manchester United to bring in a third new midfielder. "Ugarte suffered a serious knee injury during the World Cup and had to be stretchered off—it looks quite severe. Manchester United's coaching staff are awaiting more details, fearing this could become a major issue affecting the player's development. Ugarte was originally one of the players United considered selling this summer. This injury complicates matters, and United may now have to look for another midfielder."

If Ugarte is sidelined for an extended period, Manchester United will only have Kobbie Mainoo as a defensive midfielder, plus the soon-to-be-announced £39 million new signing Ederson—just two players. Carrick hopes the club will sign West Ham's Matheus Fernandes, but even if that happens, the squad depth would still be insufficient.

Therefore, despite being unable to sell Ugarte for cash, Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be forced to spend money on a third new midfielder to meet the squad depth requirements for both the Premier League and Champions League campaigns.

Additionally, reports indicate that if Ugarte misses a long period due to his World Cup injury, Manchester United will receive compensation from FIFA. FIFA's Club Protection Program covers injured players' daily wages, though with a weekly cap of £120,000. Since Ugarte's weekly wage at United for the Champions League season is exactly £120,000, the club can avoid paying his full salary out of pocket.

Under this rule, if Ugarte has not recovered after 28 days, United can start receiving compensation. Assuming a one-year absence, the club would receive approximately £5.78 million to cover the injured midfielder's wages, which may offer some solace to the club's owners.

Ugarte's contract with Manchester United runs until 2029. However, being unable to play for a year will undoubtedly reduce his market value, and clubs interested in him will also have reservations, making it even harder for the Red Devils to sell him. This summer, there were rumors of interest from Galatasaray in Turkey and AC Milan in Italy, but neither was willing to meet United's asking price of £30 million. That figure represents Ugarte's book value, and only by selling at that price would the club avoid a loss on the books.

Manchester United signed Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024 for a fixed fee of €50 million plus €10 million in add-ons. His value has already plummeted, and after this injury, it will only continue to depreciate further.