When asked by reporters about the difficulties PSG are facing in the transfer market, Luis Enrique gave a humorous and profound answer, evoking sympathy for Man United.
When a big team like PSG needs to buy a washing machine, instead of just 4 Euros, it costs 400 Euros. Moreover, that washing machine must operate like a 400 Euro laundry machine even though its actual value is 100 times lower. That is our situation at the moment."
The Spaniard did not mention Manuel Ugarte, but in the current context, the Uruguayan midfielder has become a typical example. PSG have gone through 2 transfer windows under Luis Enrique with a series of high-value contracts. However, the effectiveness has not met expectations.
Manuel Ugarte is not a cheap "wager" as he has become the most expensive midfielder in PSG's history. The French capital team spent 60 million Euros to own the Uruguayan star. However, the board of directors decided to sell him after only 12 months.
At famous teams, the pressure from transfer values is huge and quick adaptation is a must. When a player is not considered suitable immediately, a breakup can happen immediately. That is part of the reason why PSG accepted Ugarte's departure this summer.
Just by watching PSG's first two matches of the season, fans can understand why. Luis Enrique's team defeated Le Havre and Montpellier with a score of 4-1 and 6-0. In those victories, rookie Joao Neves showed his worth. At the age of 19, Neves has had 4 assists after only the first 68 minutes of play. Meanwhile, Ugarte has only provided 3 assists in 37 matches last season. This shows that Luis Enrique wants another model of player in the central midfield position.
It is impossible to say that Ugarte was a complete failure of PSG. His strong tackles and fiery fighting spirit immediately won the hearts of fans. In addition, some of the 23-year-old star's initial performances also left many impressions.
Manuel Ugarte is quite excellent. I really like the way he plays, both with and without the ball. I like the way Ugarte determines the position and steals the ball. He passes well and is very strong in the disputes. I rate Ugarte 10/10 - Luis Enrique shared after Ugarte's Ligue 1 debut in August 2023.
However, that period of excitement did not last long. Ugarte's form has fluctuated erratically. In the match against AC Milan, PSG were overwhelmed in midfield and Ugarte won only 1/3 of the duels. The midfielder born in 2001 admitted that his first months in France were a mix of success and difficulties.
Ugarte is a young player and has to adapt to the new environment, which makes it difficult to maintain top form. However, there is a bigger problem that has affected PSG's decision this summer. Throughout last season, the Parc des Princes team had difficulty controlling the game. Luis Enrique repeatedly publicly wanted his team to dominate the game through possession.
Manuel Ugarte had a place in that plan but Enrique wanted more than that. The 54-year-old coach's defensive midfielders who have previously worked with Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) and Rodri (Spain) are both more capable of controlling the game.
Joao Neves seems to be a priority choice for Enrique. Statistics show that the Portuguese star tends to progress the ball better, while Ugarte focuses more on stopping the opponent. The talent born in 2004 completed an average of 6.7 passes per 90 minutes last season, while Ugarte's number was 4.1. The Uruguayan star is a player who is excellent at recovering the ball, but is not irreplaceable at PSG.
