Manchester United's latest recruit, Manuel Ugarte, demonstrated his prowess to Erik ten Hag in Uruguay's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.
The ex-PSG player joined the Red Devils on deadline day following a drawn-out saga that tested United's patience. The club finally agreed on an initial fee of £42m for the midfielder, which could potentially increase to £50.5m depending on whether certain clauses are met.
Ugarte was present last Sunday when he witnessed his new colleagues suffer a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford. Casemiro, who is directly competing with the 23-year-old for a starting position, had a particularly challenging afternoon, making two errors leading to two goals.
Ten Hag made a bold statement by replacing him at half-time with young talent Toby Collyer. As the Premier League gears up for its return next weekend, all eyes will be on the manager to see if he gives Casemiro another chance or opts to place his trust in Ugarte.
Ugarte did nothing to jeopardise his chances of being selected for the match at St Mary's Stadium, delivering an impressive performance in defensive midfield. While Casemiro struggled with spatial awareness in the loss to Liverpool, Ugarte seemed comfortable just ahead of the backline, helping to counter Paraguay's press.
Ugarte also played a crucial role in thwarting counter-attacks, making some remarkable last-minute tackles to prevent the opposition from creating dangerous opportunities. Despite the match ending in a goalless draw, the midfielder will undoubtedly be satisfied with his 79-minute contribution.
This performance is sure to give Ten Hag something to think about ahead of next Saturday's showdown with the Saints.
