A reinforcement from Paris Saint-Germain arriving this summer never ceases to surprise the supporters of the capital club.
He arrived in relative anonymity for the tidy sum of 60 million euros. An allowance which even generated some criticism among observers. And yet… Manuel Ugarte continues to amaze observers since he signed for Paris Saint-Germain during the last summer transfer window.
A tireless ball retriever, with an exceptional ability to win duels and a remarkable volume of play, Manuel Ugarte is clearly establishing himself as the sensation of this start of the season in the ranks of PSG. A visual impression which is confirmed in the figures.
In his last 5 matches in all competitions before the match kicked off in Ecuador last night, the Uruguay international had recovered 56 balls, an average of 11.2 balls recovered per match. In comparison, the best Parisian of last season in this area, Fabien Ruiz, emerged with just over 7 balls recovered per match.
Although he had a more difficult evening in Ecuador, Ugarte had a very strong performance on Friday. The former Sporting Portugal player was dazzling in the 2026 World Cup qualifying match between Uruguay and Chile. Ugarte’s XXL performance was praised by the local press, the Celeste defensive midfielder having recovered 15 balls during this meeting, including 11 in the first period alone. A pit bull.
