Manuel Ugarte undergoes surgery after World Cup 2026 knee injury

Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte has undergone successful surgery on his knee ligaments. The 25-year-old Uruguayan suffered the injury while playing for his national team during the 2026 World Cup. "Everyone at Manchester United wishes Manuel a speedy recovery and will support him at every stage of his rehabilitation," the club said in an official statement. The exact timeline for Ugarte's return has not been disclosed, but injuries of this nature typically sideline players for a prolonged period. It is expected that the midfielder will miss a significant chunk of the first half of the upcoming season. The damage occurred late in the first half of a decisive group-stage match, when he planted his leg awkwardly while making a tackle and had to be stretchered off. In the 2025/26 campaign, Ugarte made 24 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils, picking up one yellow card and failing to register a goal or assist.