Alright so this whole thing started when my football group chat kept spamming about this Uruguayan kid Manu Ugarte. Everyone was like “this dude’s a hidden gem!” but honestly, I hadn’t paid much attention to him before. Figured I’d dig into it myself instead of taking their word for it.
Step 1: Trying to Watch the Guy Play
First things first, couldn’t just read stats – needed my eyes on him. Looked for full Sporting CP matches, but most Portuguese league stuff was highlights only. Had to hunt down specific games where people said he bossed midfield. Spent two nights skipping through grainy replays on a football database site, searching “Manu Ugarte vs Benfica,” “Manu Ugarte vs Porto.” Felt like chasing ghosts sometimes.
Step 2: Noticing What He Actually DOES
Finally saw him play. Didn’t care about fancy passing or long shots. Wrote down what my gut felt:
- This kid eats grass. Covering massive ground constantly.
- When someone tries to dribble past him? He sticks like glue. Close, annoying, physical.
- Saw him anticipate a pass a second before it happened, stepped right into the lane like he knew exactly where the ball was going.
- Simple passes mostly. No risky Hollywood stuff. But then he’d sneak one through splitting the lines.
- Aggressive. Got booked watching him! He’ll shove, tug, whatever to win it back. Could be trouble later.
Okay, got a feel. Now what about the numbers everyone loves?
Step 3: Staring at Numbers & Feeling Confused
Went looking for stats. Found his defensive numbers – ridiculously high.
- More tackles and interceptions per game than almost anyone in that league. Even better than some big-name Premier League guys.
- But his passing? Looked kinda average. Mostly sideways and back.
The numbers backed up what my eyes saw – a tackling machine. But the stats also didn’t show the few clever passes he made, the positioning that forced errors. Numbers tell part of the story, not all.
Step 4: The Big Question: How High CAN He Go?
So here’s where it gets messy. He’s clearly awesome at destroying play. Elite level potential just for that. But the top clubs today? They don’t want pure destroyers.
- His passing is functional… but not Busquets-level.
- He could maybe be a modern #6, covering ground & recycling? But needs more time on the ball composure.
- That aggression? Referees in England/Spain/Germany might card him twice as much. Risk.
He needs the right team that values his specific skills – maybe a step up from Sporting to a Champions League club looking for a midfield terrier. Liverpool for example? I see it. But he isn’t suddenly becoming a creative playmaker. His ceiling is world-class ball-winner & disruptor. That’s huge, just don’t expect him to be Xabi Alonso.
Final Takeaway: Found the hype justified. He does the dirty work brilliantly. Will he be a superstar? Depends on the system around him. But he’ll make life absolutely hell for attackers wherever he goes. That much I’m sure of.
