Ugarte suffers a knee injury during the World Cup, adding another shadow to his Manchester United career.

In Uruguay's heartbreaking 0-1 defeat to Spain in the World Cup match, 25-year-old Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte suffered a severe knee ligament injury, which may sideline him for a long period of time.

Towards the end of the first half, Ugarte twisted his joint while blocking Spanish player Pedri, and was subsequently carried off the field on a stretcher by medical staff with a pained expression.

Manchester United confirmed the injury in a subsequent official statement, but it is not yet clear whether it was a more serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture that often requires surgery and months of recovery, or a relatively minor medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury.

The club stated that its medical team is expediting the assessment to develop a follow-up medical and rehabilitation plan. The Uruguayan Football Federation also issued a statement emphasizing that it will work with the club to follow up on the subsequent diagnosis of the injury.

The defeat in this crucial battle directly marked the end of the Uruguayan team's two-star lineup for this World Cup, as they ultimately finished third in Group H with only 2 points.

For Ugarte personally, this fall was undoubtedly a heavy blow. Since his €50 million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Old Trafford, his adaptation to the Premier League has been quite bumpy.

In the 2025-26 season, Ugarte only made 8 league starts, and even started only once in 16 matches at the end of the season. Now, with a new injury plaguing him, his journey at Manchester United will undoubtedly become even more difficult.

Image source: Internet