Manchester United fans collectively demand the sale of a player following the loss to Aston Villa

Following the recent loss at Villa Park, Manchester United fans’ frustration surged, singling out a player branded as a “curse” because of his disturbing losing statistics.

A 1-2 loss at Aston Villa not only caused Manchester United to drop significantly in the Premier League standings but also sparked intense debate about Manuel Ugarte’s future at Old Trafford. On social media, the Uruguayan midfielder quickly became the main target of criticism, with some fans even giving him the harsh nickname: the Red Devils’ “curse.”

The match at Villa Park was not entirely poor for Ruben Amorim’s squad. Manchester United created numerous chances and maintained control for most of the game. However, two brilliant moments from Morgan Rogers, interrupted by a goal from Matheus Cunha, rendered all efforts futile. Right after the final whistle, attention immediately focused on Ugarte.

On platform X, a flood of comments appeared with a unified harsh tone. One fan wrote: “The Ugarte curse continues.” Another sarcastically remarked: “The Ugarte curse strikes MU again.” Some opinions were even more blunt: “He’s started 7 matches and the team has lost every single one.” These statements reflect the growing disappointment among supporters.

Statistics only worsen Ugarte’s situation. In the Premier League alone, Manchester United has played 9 matches with Ugarte in the starting lineup without a single win, recording 1 draw and 8 losses. This is the club’s second-longest winless starting streak, trailing only Kleberson’s unfortunate run in the 2004/05 season. Ironically, MU’s performance back then was still better than it is now.

In the match against Aston Villa, Ugarte started because Casemiro was suspended and Kobbie Mainoo was injured. Mainoo’s absence intensified unfavorable comparisons for Ugarte, as many supporters recalled the comeback against Bournemouth when Mainoo came on. One user sarcastically commented: “Mainoo comes on and MU changes; he’s like the complete opposite of the Ugarte curse.”

Signed by Manchester United from PSG for £42 million in the summer of 2024, shortly after Scott McTominay’s departure, Ugarte was expected to add steel to the midfield. He is also familiar to Amorim, who trusted him greatly at Sporting Lisbon. However, at Old Trafford, the midfielder has yet to make a significant impact.

As Manchester United’s struggles continue and Bruno Fernandes faces potential injury, the pressure on Amorim grows. In this context, the fans’ calls to sell Ugarte reveal a dwindling confidence, making the Uruguayan midfielder’s future at Old Trafford more uncertain than ever.