Manuel Ugarte Shines on Manchester United Debut as Lisandro Martinez Reveals New Nickname ‘El Pulpo’
Manuel Ugarte made a notable impression on his Manchester United debut despite a limited time on the field, and his new teammate Lisandro Martinez has already given him a nickname.
Manchester United rebounded strongly from two previous losses with a 3-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday.
After a shaky start, a penalty save from Andre Onana boosted United’s confidence, and Matthijs de Ligt, named man of the match, scored the opening goal with a header. Marcus Rashford added a second goal before halftime.
Ugarte, a £42 million summer signing, came off the bench in the 73rd minute, replacing Christian Eriksen.
Despite concerns about his fitness, Ugarte’s debut was promising. He won three ground duels and lost possession only once, demonstrating the qualities United have been seeking.
Manchester United sealed the win with a late goal from Alejandro Garnacho, completing a solid performance. Ugarte may make his full debut in Tuesday’s League Cup match against Barnsley.
Lisandro Martinez, who revealed that Ugarte had only participated in two training sessions with the team before his debut, has already nicknamed him “El Pulpo,” meaning “The Octopus” in Spanish. Ugarte shared his gratitude for the fans’ support on Instagram, prompting Martinez to respond with the nickname and a fire emoji.
Manuel Ugarte Shines on Manchester United Debut as Lisandro Martinez Reveals New Nickname ‘El Pulpo’
