Manuel Ugarte: From Montevideo streets to Manchester United’s engine room

With Arsenal desperate to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool and Manchester United battling to salvage their season from a dangerous 14th position, the stage is set for a fiercely contested match.

Adding to the anticipation, United's Uruguayan midfield maestro, Manuel Ugarte, recently shared his journey—one that began in the football-infused streets of Montevideo and led him to the heart of English football.

Montevideo is a place where football isn't just a game—it’s a way of life. For a young boy growing up in its bustling streets, the sport was more than a pastime; it was an identity, a dream waiting to be chased.

“My childhood was beautiful, competitive, full of moments that shaped my future,” Ugarte reflects.From the earliest days, football was never a choice—it was a calling. There were no other distractions, no other possibilities.

He started young, lacing up his boots and chasing the ball through the streets, often alongside his older brother. Just a year apart in age, they were inseparable. “Football was the bond we shared, a silent language spoken through passes, shots, and endless games on makeshift pitches,” he says.

His brother, too, had talent—something undeniable in their family.The earliest football memory was a  training sessions at City Park, a local club where he first felt the structure and discipline of the game beyond the streets.

The exact age is a blur, but the moment left an imprint. It was there, in those first drills, that he learned the essence of football—not just skill and competition, but passion. And one lesson stood out above the rest: “If you’re going to do something, give it everything. No half-measures. If football was the dream, then commitment had to match it.”

His father played an instrumental role in shaping both the player and the person he became. Even today, his father remains a pillar, offering guidance and support, a steady presence in the whirlwind of a professional career.

“He always told me to take a step back sometimes. Reflect on how far you’ve come, on the experiences that have shaped you. Only then can you truly enjoy the journey.”

Professional Football 

That journey took its next step at Fénix, a club with more stature in Montevideo. It wasn’t a calculated move, just a natural progression through friendships and shared ambitions. They chose a team together, and his youth career took flight.

The years at Fénix were transformative, an experience he describes as beautiful. He learned, he grew, and most importantly, he enjoyed every moment.Then, at just 15, everything accelerated. Fast-tracked to the first team—something almost unheard of. In Uruguay, football’s youth system is structured into divisions: seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth. He barely had time to settle before being thrust into the senior squad.

By August of his second year, he was training with the first team, though school commitments kept him from fully integrating. Then, at 16, it all became real. Full-time training, full-time football. His debut came at 15, a fleeting seven or eight minutes that felt like an eternity. “The adrenaline, the nerves—it was overwhelming, but unforgettable.”

Sitting on the bench, he felt calm, focused. But as the second half approached, his teammates started whispering: “This is your debut.” That’s when it hit. The nerves surged, his heart raced. If he was feeling the pressure, his father in the stands was ten times more anxious, watching his son step into the professional world.

A moment neither of them would ever forget.He started as a striker, playing further up the pitch, chasing goals. But football had other plans. The shift to midfield came during his time with Uruguay’s U-20s under coach Fabián Coito.

At first, he hated it. No player likes to be moved from a position they know. But over time, he adapted. He learned. And eventually, he embraced it. Today, he’s a defensive midfielder—a change that reshaped his entire career.Then, at 20, came the opportunity of a lifetime: Europe. The decision was easy; the dream had always been to play on the continent. But the circumstances were far from ideal.

A Move to Europe  

Leaving home at 19, relocating to Portugal in the middle of a global pandemic—it wasn’t just about football anymore. It was about survival, about adapting to a new culture, a new life. “The first months were brutal, a test of resilience. But with time, my family joined me, and that made everything easier.”

His time at Famalicão was a blur—five or six months that felt like an entire lifetime of lessons. European football was a different beast, faster, more tactical. He had to push himself harder than ever before, adapting to a new system, a new intensity. Every training session was an education, every match a proving ground.

Then came the next step, the one that changed everything: Manchester United.The first time he heard United were interested was when he signed for PSG—there were already whispers.

The Premier League, Man U

But when the real opportunity arrived, there was no hesitation.

“I wanted to go there,” he recalls. “United defined an era in football. It’s everything. One of the greatest clubs in the world. If they want you, you don’t think twice. It fills you with pride.”

It felt like home. “It’s the best league in the world. It’s on a different level, another experience every player must have,” he says. “The games here are unique, and you don’t think twice about coming to the best team in England. It suits my style perfectly.”

At just 23, he sometimes finds himself in disbelief at how quickly it’s all happened. Conversations with his brother and childhood friends bring it into perspective.

“A few years ago, we were training at a park during Covid when everything was shut down,” he reflects. “And now? Wow. It’s all very fast. It’s extreme. You have to learn to live with it.”

And then there was Old Trafford. That first moment stepping onto the pitch, that first match—it was surreal. “Even before coming out, you can feel the crowd. It’s unique. A moment you treasure forever,” he says.

“When you’re in the game, you want to win so badly that sometimes you don’t notice everything. But it was incredible.”

Fast-paced, relentless, transformative—that’s been his journey so far. And yet, this is only the beginning.

Catch all the action on Showmax Premier League this Sunday!