Gym sessions, Cavani chats and more - how Manuel Ugarte is making his mark at Manchester United

A picture recently circulated of Manuel Ugarte brandishing his middle finger to photographers at Stockport Station. It was easy to jump to conclusions or to stereotype him.

What the picture did not capture was professional autograph hunters provoking United players. Staff at United say Ugarte's sign language was for them, rather than the photographer. The photographer has not had any personal dealings with Ugarte.

Security staff have clocked how much of a nuisance the autograph hunters are for United. Signed United shirts continue to do a roaring trade and there were some ghoulish fans loitering outside Manchester Cathedral after the funeral of Kath Phipps on Monday afternoon.

The hunters have been prone to tail players on their journey home. Sometimes, they follow them literally all the way. At Sir Alex Ferguson's previous address in Wilmslow, the odd chancer had the brass neck to ring the United great's doorbell.

They were hanging around in Spinningfields when Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui emerged from dinner at The Ivy. The pair were officially announced as United players the following day.

United were asked to release a statement on behalf of Mason Mount after he was pestered in his first summer. Mount was filmed declining requests and portrayed as the villain. Mount was merely giving the usual familiar faces short shrift. Ugarte was literally more pointed with his reaction.

Erik ten Hag was a stickler for the grinta Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro brought to the United side in his first season. Casemiro was repeatedly described as the "cement between the stones" before he started crumbling.

Ugarte is now pouring into that void in midfield. Aside from Amad, he is the only other player who has maintained a