Flamboyant during his first appearances with PSG, Manuel Ugarte has experienced more difficulties in recent weeks. Some are ruthless when judging the young Argentinian.
Transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, Manuel Ugarte cost his weight in peanuts. No less than sixty million euros were spent by the French club to enlist the services of the man who was then playing for Sporting. Three months after the start of the season, the midfielder is less energetic than during his first appearances. And for some observers, the time has already come to take aim at a player who is only twenty-two years old.
Asked to give his opinion on the progress and performances of Manuel Ugarte, Yoann Riou did not spare the Argentinian. This Wednesday on the channel The Team, he delivered a particularly acidic analysis. “ He’s not bad enough, he’s not technical enough, he’s not fast enough, he’s not a leader enough at heart. It’s a bit like Fabian Ruiz when he arrived from Naples, I used almost the same words. He does not have superior quality in one area. When you get to that level, you still have to be very strong in one area.“
“I preferred Paredes”
And the journalist continues his vitriolic demonstration. “ Yesterday (Tuesday) you were still at the Parc des Princes, against Newcastle, (…) and frankly I don’t find him at all dominant, not at all dominant, not at all alpha male. I still preferred (Lionel) Messi’s guard dog, (Leandro) Paredes. At least he had this nastiness. The matches are piling up and we have to see who brought him to PSG and why. » For Yoann Riou, the situation would require Manuel Ugarte to bare his fangs more. “ There, we are one match away from the end of the group stage (of C1). Paris is on a wire, Paris is on the verge of disaster, so you don’t have time to wait.“
Also present on the set, former French international Benoît Trémoulinas attempted to explain Ugarte’s current level, while expressing his confidence in him. “ We feel that he has qualities. Why does he play good matches in the championship and let go? I clearly think he’s a bit nervous. I think that in the Champions League, he feels that the level is very high and that he has a bit of pressure because despite everything, he is the replacement for (Marco) Verratti. He will gain confidence as the matches progress. It’s the experience.“
