Gary Neville says he expects Manuel Ugarte to make way when Manchester United return to the transfer market to strengthen their midfield options in the summertime.
Ugarte arrived in Manchester with weighty expectations on his shoulders after completing a £50million transfer move from Paris Saint-Germain back in 2024.
However the 24-year-old has badly struggled to live as much as his hefty price tag across two underwhelming seasons in English football and is yet to make a single start since Michael Carrick took over the reins.
In stark contrast, Kobbie Mainoo has enjoyed a rare resurgence under United’s interim head coach having effectively been frozen out of the starting XI under Ruben Amorim.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have also been firing on all cylinders in United’s engine room and each played an integral part on Sunday afternoon because the Red Devils returning to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa.
Nonetheless, Casemiro – who opened the scoring at Old Trafford – has confirmed he will probably be departing United at the tip of the season, leaving the club with a giant hole to fill in the midst of the park and within the dressing room.
Long before the Brazilian had even announced his impending exit, United had begun the seek for reinforcements in central midfield, with the likes of Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba linked last summer.
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Casemiro himself has reportedly encouraged United’s hierarchy to pursue a bid to prise fellow countryman Bruno Guimareas away from Newcastle when the transfer window opens for business.
Speaking after Casemiro’s outstanding performance against Villa, Neville insisted it was ‘right’ that the club respected the midfielder’s want to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere.
However the ex-United and England right-back said it was imperative that his former club fill the void with two high-quality additions to bolster their squad for next season.
‘Casemiro has got such vast experience. Obviously Manchester United have gotten him within the latter a part of his profession,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.
‘While you see him now, you imagine… well we all know because we saw him win five Champions League titles… what he was: he’s an exceptional central midfield player that played in one of the crucial dominant central midfields you’ll ever see, a tremendous midfielder for Real Madrid.
‘Nevertheless it’s right that United do let him go and it’s right that he does leave United. This is sort of a cameo at the tip of his profession, almost like a swan song, where he’s probably loving every minute of this and you possibly can see it.
‘He’s showing and kissing his badge to the fans, the fans absolutely love him and it’s right that he does leave at the tip of the season.
‘They’ll miss his presence in each boxes. I believe he’s phenomenal at getting on the tip of crosses and he’s phenomenal at clearing them. He’s brave within the air, he’s really good, he gets up early.
‘It was an exceptional goal.’
Neville added: ‘United need two central midfield players in the summertime.
‘Within the last summer transfer window, they rebuilt their forward line with Benjamin Sesko, Mathus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to go together with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo, and that’s really beginning to hum and purr and you possibly can see real goals and real threat.
‘Manchester United didn’t rating enough goals last season and that’s an absolute no-no here, you have got to attain goals, in order that they’ve corrected that. Bruno Fernandes creating and even Mason Mount I’d throw into that when he’s fit.
‘There does look to be good options up top however the centre of midfield is an issue.’
In accordance with Neville, United needs to be look to interchange Casemiro and Ugarte with a ‘Michael Carrick-type’ midfielder and a more combative ‘destroyer’.
He explained: ‘I believe Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro are doing an excellent job immediately for Michael Carrick, nevertheless, every United fan on this stadium knows that’s going to be nowhere near enough when United start playing within the Champions League next season, which is greater than likely they are going to, and so they don’t get knocked out of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup in the primary round.
‘They’re going to wish three or 4 really good central midfielders. In the intervening time, they’ve got Mainoo who you possibly can buy into, but you possibly can’t really take a look at any of the others and think that’s going to work.
‘Casemiro is leaving and I believe Ugarte will leave in order that they need two really good central midfield players. Probably one which’s more positional, perhaps like a Michael Carrick-type, and one which is more of a destroyer.’
The eight-time Premier League winner went on: ‘Principally, they need those two players and that’s the following area of focus.
‘I do think the back needs taking a look at but I believe the midfield will probably be the actual focus in the summertime transfer window.’
Carrick was wary of adding any fuel to speculation of a possible U-turn for Casemiro when the Brazilian’s future was raised at his post-match press conference.
The United interim boss did, though, applaud the previous Real Madrid man on the ‘terrific’ impact he had revamped the previous couple of weeks.
Asked if there was any likelihood of Casemiro changing his mind and staying, Carrick replied: ‘I believe, in some ways, it’s difficult to say.
‘When something is set, in some ways, the proven fact that it’s decided makes things a little bit bit easier and everybody understands the situation really.
‘I believe the impact he’s had has been terrific, actually since I’ve been here and dealing with him, and his influence within the team and massive moments in goals.
‘And I believe it was a pleasant moment at the tip there with the supporters, and having that connection and the respect.
‘That was a pleasant moment and I believe he’ll enjoy that.’
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