Just arrived, already adopted. Proud representative of the “garra charrúa”, this “characteristic of the Uruguayan player” which he describes as “the desire to always have the ball and the hunger for victory”, Manuel Ugarte was quick to demonstrate his qualities, that of a “junkyard dog” as the former Parisian Greg Paisley said to us with affection lately. Taste for combat? Second nature to the 22-year-old midfielder, recruited this summer for the modest sum of €60 million. “Actually, it comes naturally to me. When I enter a field, the only thing that interests me is to recover the ball as quickly as possible, he explained in the columns of L’Équipe, shortly after his arrival. It goes with the Uruguayan style. Today, in Uruguay, we see the arrival of complete players, both creative and efficient. But before, we were always characterized by the “garra charrua”, an irrepressible hunger to recover the ball, to fight, to be ambitious”. A register that was terribly lacking.

The time of the Motta-Verratti-Matuidi trio is indeed far away. This game sector has long been the poor relation of the capital club. In fact, it is above all the first named who has never really been replaced… Of course, Ugarte does not evolve in the same register as Thiago Motta, a ferocious watchdog but an outstanding organizer. The former Sporting CP player is much less technically fine than the former Italian international, now Bologna coach, that’s clear. “I still have to improve the game with the ball, but I believe that Luis Enrique is the perfect coach for that!”, he smiles, in an interview with AFP, explaining that recovery remains his “major characteristic” but that “Lucho” asks him for “a lot of variation”.

Given the number of balloons he has to scratch, he is necessarily involved in the recovery. The stats speak for themselves: after three Ligue 1 games, Ugarte has 11.3 possessions per game. Against Lens (3-1), last week, he recovered 10, with 11 duels won out of 16. A machine. “He’s crazy, he collects too many balls!” Had fun the 17-year-old titi Warren Zaire-Emery, also excellent against the Sang et Or, like the Portuguese Vitinha for that matter.

“What has been lacking in recent years is this kind of player, who makes others want to surpass themselves. He makes other players want to transcend themselves, ”noted the former Parisian star David Ginola, on Canal. In addition to excessive possession, the desire to make efforts together is indeed the main characteristic of the PSG 2023-24 vintage so far. Day and night compared to last season, and last seasons in fact. Ugarte, along with others, allows the Reds and Blues to press high, fast and hard when the ball is lost. Which is not to displease Luis Enrique and which will quickly earn a place of choice for Ugarte in the hearts of regulars at the Parc des Princes. “I don’t think we could find a single Parisian supporter who didn’t appreciate Ugarte’s qualities as a recuperator, confided the 53-year-old Spanish coach at a press conference, after PSG-Lens. It comes down to two things: his individual qualities, but also the whole team that sets him up to do it. We also see that the fans celebrated his actions as assists. It’s important for us to feel that support.”

It must be said that the Park’s public has always displayed its preference for blue-collar workers, workers, warriors, contrary to what one might think. With Lucas Hernandez, the titi Zaire-Emery and therefore Ugarte, the supporters get their money’s worth in this area. “He was magnificent, wonderful with and without the ball. He recovered balls, he pressed very high, he ran around the four corners of the field, he made interceptions … It’s 10/10”, said Luis Enrique of the Uruguayan already after the first match of the season, against Lorient (0-0). A meeting during which Ugarte had shown his qualities but also a darker side, with four faults. Since then, he has only committed one in Toulouse (1-1) and none against Lens.

“I’m very happy, I’m very lucky, it’s an intelligent team, relished the successor of Christian Rodriguez, Carlos Bueno, Diego Lugano and of course Edinson Cavani in Paris. Luis Enrique asks us to collect the ball very high, especially me, because it is very important. We create opportunities from our possession of the ball, so we have to recover it as quickly as possible, ”he explained again, he who idolized Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Juan Roman Riquelme in his younger years, as he did. explained to L’Équipe. “But when I started playing in the middle, my reference was (Sergio) Busquets”, he immediately added, he who studied at Fénix, a club from Montevideo, before landing in Portugal and Famalicao at 19. , at the beginning of 2021. Six months later, he joined one of the three giants of the Portuguese championship, Sporting, with the crowning of champion in 2022, a “first title, marked with a white stone”, he told the AFP. And to add: “I learned a lot and I must continue. And also keep a cool head for everything that happens in this great club. It will help.

Keeping a cool head, however, is not easy when you arrive at a club where all positions are doubled and where no one – apart from Kylian Mbappé – leaves with the assurance of starting. “I want 22 starters, not 12 or 13”, insists Luis Enrique. And to continue: “You will get to know me and you will see that this status of holder or replacement does not exist for me.” Which Luis Enrique also believes he has something to do in the middle, even if one can wonder about the lack of creator after the departures of Messi and Neymar, the one to follow Marco Verratti. “I think I didn’t need it, I have a lot of players in the middle and I’m convinced that’s enough for this season,” swears the former Barça coach, delighted with the Parisian market. “The transfer window was excellent, he savors. I take this opportunity to thank the president (Nasser Al-Khelaïfi) and Luis Campos, who were perfect in their role. I couldn’t ask for more, all my requests were fulfilled. I am pleased to see that each post is doubled. It’s time for the team, the staff and the players, to restore all the confidence that has been granted.

Remember that PSG spent more than €300 million on 11 recruits this summer, nearly 400 with bonuses, including 60 for Ugarte alone. A small fortune which gave rise to certain questions at the beginning of the summer. Nobody thinks about it anymore. The only question is whether he can continue on the pace of the start of the season over time… Last year Vitinha started strong before diving for example. “It’s true that it’s crazy, I’m grateful to the club for having made such an effort, he said of the amount of his transfer, still at L’Équipe. I have a responsibility, but I don’t want to put pressure on myself because it could backfire on me. I come with a huge desire to play, learn and work. I will try to make it on the ground. And I hope that people will say that these 60 M€ were worth it (smile)”. So far, it’s been pretty good…

New test in Lyon this Sunday (8:45 p.m.), during the fourth day of Ligue 1. With the ex-Lyonnais Bradley Barcola and the returning Gonçalo Ramos, but not yet Randal Kolo Muani (ankle). “I expect a difficult match but we prepared well to take the three points”, swears “Lucho”, who can still count on his Uruguayan watchdog to crunch Lyon’s calves and set the tone for the others on the lawn of Groupama Stadium.