Manuel Ugarte has pledged to prove his worth after Manchester United spent £50 million to sign him.
Ugarte, who was signed from Paris St-Germain a year ago, had a difficult first season when Man United finished in 15th place - their worst record in the Premier League.
The Uruguayan star has failed to meet the huge transfer fee. He was not used in the last 2 matches of the "Red Devils" - including the loss in the Europa League final against Tottenham.
However, Ugarte left a strong impression in Man United's 2-1 victory over West Ham in the opening match of the tour to the US.
The 24-year-old player plays with high intensity, often regaining control of the ball. Notably, Ugarte made a smart move to assist Amad in the goal, although the final goal was disallowed for offside.
This is a positive signal opening the pre-season for Ugarte. The midfielder could well feature in Man United's midfield in their home game against Arsenal on 17 August.
When asked if he would start the new season more confidently, Ugarte replied: "Absolutely. I have a better understanding of my opponents and teammates. All of those are very important. Sometimes it takes time for relationships to become more connected.
I am used to the tournament and the opponents, this is very important. So I'm happy, but we still have to keep trying. Last year, we went through many changes. We change coaches, change teams and gradually get used to the Premier League."
Ugarte said the "Red Devils" new signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and young defender Diego Leon have quickly integrated. In particular, Cunha and Mbeumo are expected to improve the quality of Man United's already shaky squad.
"All three of the players here are very good people and good players. The important thing is that everyone is united in the dressing room and we have to keep moving forward.
We beat West Ham, that's very important, but we continue to work hard, because we have a lot to improve. We have many games to go, but I think it's important to be modest," added the Uruguayan international.
Ugarte still needs to improve his ability to participate in the final stages of the opponent's third. However, it should be remembered that he had almost no pre-season to get acquainted with his teammates and the system in the previous season.
Therefore, after a season of getting acquainted and a period of careful preparation in the summer of 2025, fans have every right to expect a more explosive Ugarte.
If Ugarte continues to maintain his form as in the match against West Ham, he and Kobbie Mainoo could become an excellent central midfielder pair for the "Red Devils".
