Manuel Ugarte will never forget his first day at Old Trafford. It started with Manchester United's £50m signing nearly getting drenched by the pitch-side sprinklers as he was introduced to the crowd. After the game, manager Erik ten Hag warned that Ugarte's ability would take time to develop.
Between those two highlights, Ugarte saw the Red Devils lose 0-3 to Liverpool. Notably, Casemiro - who was expected to lose his place when the Uruguayan arrived - had a terrible first 45 minutes.
Having only completed the transfer of Ugarte from Paris St Germain on Friday night (local time), Man United missed the midday deadline to debut the midfielder against Liverpool. Therefore, the 23-year-old will have to wait until the match against Southampton on September 14, provided he is fit after September's FIFA Days.
But even without playing for United, Ugarte is under huge pressure as he becomes the solution to a difficult problem: the team's inability to control from midfield.
In fact, this was a problem that existed before Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford. And it was exacerbated by Ten Hag’s two full seasons in charge due to his faulty tactical approach. United had neglected the defensive midfield area long before Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Hopes now rest on Ugarte, a signing United have been missing for over a decade. The problem is that the Uruguay international is unlikely to be able to shoulder the heavy burden.
Ugarte would certainly bring youthful energy, physicality, tenacity, tackling ability and defensive awareness to United, elements that neither Casemiro nor Kobbie Mainoo are capable of providing.
When Manchester City were beaten in last season's FA Cup final, Ten Hag deployed Sofyan Amrabat alongside Mainoo in midfield, with Scott McTominay adding a burst of energy. Amrabat and McTominay are both no longer at United , which is why Casemiro was picked against Liverpool.
Casemiro was once one of the world’s best defensive midfielders, helping Real Madrid win five Champions League titles alongside Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. However, United’s decision to sign the Brazilian for £70m two years ago looks increasingly naive.
Casemiro, however, is just the latest in a series of transfer missteps for the Red Devils in midfield. The last time United signed a world-class defensive midfielder at the peak of his career was 26-year-old Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich in 2007.
The England midfielder helped Man United to Champions League glory a year later, but injury ended Hargreaves's Old Trafford career early, and they have struggled from one defensive midfield mistake to another ever since.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (31), Nemanja Matic (29) and Casemiro (30) were all past their prime when they were signed by United. Meanwhile, Fred, Morgan Schneiderlin and Ander Herrera have never had the quality required to play for a club as big as United.
In fact, Man United were so desperate that they had to recruit Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba and Donny van de Beek to play as defensive midfielders. And all of them were not capable of this role.
Signing Ugarte is certainly a step in the right direction for Man United, but never has a defensive midfielder arrived at a new club with such crazy expectations.
