Since joining United, Ugarte has settled into his role as a defensive-midfielder, focusing more on breaking up opposition play than flashy attacking statistics. In the current Premier League season he has made 9 appearances and logged just over 300 minutes on the pitch still well short of being a regular starter.
In terms of his output: he has not scored or assisted a goal so far. His shot and chance-creation numbers are very modest he is not being asked (or able) to influence matches in the final third in the way some of his midfield colleagues do. His pass completion is solid, and defensively he brings energy and pressing, but the tangible attacking returns are missing.
When compared with other midfielders at United, the contrast becomes clear. Teammates who have a more advanced or box-to-box role are delivering more in terms of goals, assists, key passes and overall attacking influence. Ugarte, by contrast, is performing a specialist role: anchoring the midfield, screening the defence, recovering possession, and providing a base from which more creative players can operate. This means that while his presence is important, his impact tends to be quieter and less obviously measurable in highlight-stats.
From a minutes-played perspective, he currently trails several peers. That suggests he is viewed more as a rotational or situational option rather than being nailed-on in the first XI. For a club of United’s size, consistency and high output are expected; so the fact that Ugarte has not yet forced his way into the core midfield machine means he is still in the process of proving himself.
On the strengths side: his defensive attributes tackles, recoveries, physicality are what make him valuable. He brings intensity and discipline, attributes that complement attacking players. In matches where United need to maintain control or defend a lead, he offers a profile that some teammates may lack. However, from the standpoint of overall team contribution especially when measured by attacking or creative metrics he is behind others.
In short: Ugarte is carving out a niche at United in 2025-26 as a midfield stabiliser and ball-winner rather than a creative fulcrum. His value is more subtle, and while he is performing adequately for the role he is given, he is not yet matching the levels of influence that the more attack-minded or all-round midfielders at the club are achieving. If he wants to move up the internal pecking order, he will need to increase his minutes and add more visible impact on games; the potential is clearly there, but he hasn’t yet fully translated it into top-tier minutes or standout stats.
