Manchester United officially announced Ugarte's injury, and he revealed it is the most serious knee problem he has ever had! Ratcliffe wants to sell Mount to raise funds for a new signing

The club's announcement on Sunday verified that Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte's injury from Friday's World Cup group stage game versus Spain is indeed a knee ligament problem. Medical assessments are ongoing to decide the optimal treatment and rehabilitation duration. The brief Red Devils statement concluded by hoping Ugarte recovers soon and pledging support.

The club's statement confirmed that Ugarte will remain with the team, as he will certainly not recover in time for the summer transfer window, making a move impossible. Ugarte himself revealed he suffered "the worst injury a player can endure." According to Uruguayan media, Ugarte has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, which will keep him sidelined for months. Recovery from a serious ACL injury typically takes 9 to 12 months.

On Saturday, Uruguay's medical team examined Ugarte, and he will now travel to Manchester for further tests. Manchester United will decide their next steps based on the results. BBC's Simon Stone reported that the club privately expects the worst-case scenario: Ugarte may miss the entire next season.

Ugarte posted on social media: "In one of the most important matches in the national team's history, I suffered the worst injury a player can face. I couldn't stay on the pitch to fight alongside my teammates, nor even cheer them on until the end. This experience will leave a lifelong regret, but everything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and I truly believe this is no exception. Undoubtedly, when life wants to stop you, it always finds a way to tell you. It's up to me to find the positive side in this setback. Success in life lies in getting back up after every fall."

Manchester United's original plan was to sell Ugarte after the World Cup, hoping he would perform well to attract buyers for a permanent transfer or a loan. Ugarte's tournament display was not outstanding, and now he is out with a serious injury. The club can only focus on his recovery.

In 2024, Manchester United spent €60 million (£50 million) to sign Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain, but his performances over two years have been underwhelming. Ugarte's last appearance for the Red Devils was on April 13, starting against Leeds United, a loss after which he was dropped by manager Carrick. The club had confirmed plans to strengthen the midfield this summer with two or three new signings, with the third arrival depending on Ugarte's departure.

Manchester United are now in a dilemma: Ugarte cannot be sold, so the club cannot recover funds, meaning they theoretically won't bring in another midfield signing; yet with Ugarte injured, the squad is short one player, creating an even greater need for reinforcements.

Manchester United have agreed a £39 million deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta, but the planned announcement on July 9 at the start of preseason training has been delayed because Ederson was called up as a replacement for Brazil's World Cup squad. The new plan is that after Brazil's World Cup campaign ends, Ederson will first complete his medical and sign the contract, then report to Carrington following a three-week holiday.

Manchester United have missed out on Elliot Anderson and given up on Sandro Tonali. They are now negotiating to sign Matheus Fernandes from West Ham United, facing stiff competition from Tottenham. The club also highly rates Alex Scott of Bournemouth and continues to monitor Carlos Baleba from Brighton.

Whether Ugarte's long-term injury will affect Manchester United's transfer budget remains to be seen. Under FIFA's Club Protection Programme, the club can receive compensation. If a player is injured while representing his national team, FIFA pays up to £120,000 per week in wages, which exactly covers Ugarte's full salary.

Over the weekend, Italian media reported that Manchester United have offered Mason Mount to AC Milan. The 27-year-old English midfielder could become a new option for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sell and raise funds for transfers. Milan's new coach, Ruben Amorim, admired Mount during his time at Manchester United.

However, the Manchester Evening News stated that Milan have not had any contact with Mount's agent team, let alone made a bid. Mount is expected to remain at Manchester United next season, especially given his high weekly wage of £250,000, which makes finding a buyer difficult; Italian clubs are unlikely to afford it.

Mount joined Manchester United from Chelsea for a high fee of £60 million in 2023, scoring only 7 goals and providing 2 assists in three seasons, missing 70 games due to injury. United have two years remaining on Mount's contract, plus an option for an extra season. With his fixed transfer fee at £55 million, his current book value is £22 million, and the club would accept such an offer if it came in.

However, people close to Mount expressed surprise when they heard about the Milan rumors. Mount has been training hard in Spain with a personal coach, aiming for a strong start to the new season. He believes he will have plenty of opportunities with the team competing on four fronts. Towards the end of last season, Carrick deployed Mount as a defensive midfielder, replacing the position originally held by Ugarte. If Manchester United fail to bring in a third midfield signing, Mount may have another chance to play in that role next season.