Manuel Ugarte reveals talks with former Manchester United player that convinced him to sign

Facundo Pellistri helped convince his international teammate Manuel Ugarte to sign for Manchester United, despite his own Old Trafford career ending before they could become club colleagues.

Ugarte and Pellistri spent time together in the United States this summer as Uruguay finished third in the Copa America and United had already made the 23-year-old holding midfielder their top target for that position during the window. Although negotiations with Paris St-Germain dragged on, Ugarte did sound out Pellistri about what to expect at Old Trafford and he had set his sights on a switch to the club early in the summer window.

Pellistri left United to join Panathinaikos for an initial £5.1m on August 21 and Ugarte's move from Paris for £42m was only confirmed on deadline day, meaning the two were never teammates at club level, but Pellistri did help sell the values of United to the fifth and final arrival of the summer window.

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“First and foremost, its history, because we all know what a massive club United is - one of the best teams in the world,” Ugarte said of his desire to join the club.

“I also spoke a lot with Facu Pellistri and he told me all about everything: the atmosphere that's generated, the matchday atmosphere that builds up at Old Trafford is incredible.

“So yes, I'm really excited. I'd love to experience United's legendary stadium as a player and feel the presence of the supporters.”

United's pursuit of Ugarte dragged on for a couple of months so the former Sporting midfielder had time to watch the games, especially as he wasn't included