Gary Neville Forecasts Major Midfield Overhaul as Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro Prepare for Manchester United Exit

Gary Neville warns Man Utd that Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro will leave this summer, leaving Michael Carrick in desperate need of two new central midfielders.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 5:45 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Football365

The Impending Departure of a Midfield Icon

Manchester United’s central midfield is set for a significant transition as veteran star Casemiro prepares to exit Old Trafford at the end of the current season. The Brazilian international, who recently scored his seventh Premier League goal in a 3-1 win against Aston Villa, has been a cornerstone of Michael Carrick’s resurgent side. While Casemiro’s recent form and "swan song" performances have endeared him to the fans, Gary Neville noted on his Sky Sports podcast that it is the correct time for both the player and the club to part ways. Neville emphasized that while United will miss his bravery and aerial presence in both boxes, his departure is a necessary step in the club's long-term evolution.

Manuel Ugarte’s Uncertain Future at Old Trafford

In a more surprising prediction, Neville also expects Manuel Ugarte to leave the club alongside Casemiro this summer. Ugarte, who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for approximately £43 million in 2024, has struggled to cement his place as a long-term solution in the heart of the United midfield. Neville suggested that the Uruguayan international is unlikely to be part of the Champions League squad next season, leaving Kobbie Mainoo as the only current midfielder whom the club can fully "buy into" for the future. This double exit would leave the Red Devils in urgent need of defensive reinforcements to maintain their current momentum.

Identifying the Midfield Profile for Next Season

Neville has urged the Manchester United hierarchy to focus their summer recruitment efforts on two distinct types of central midfielders. He believes the squad requires a positional, deep-lying playmaker in the mold of current interim boss Michael Carrick, paired with a more aggressive "destroyer" to break up opposition play. According to Neville, while the club successfully addressed its goal-scoring issues by signing Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo, the lack of depth in the middle of the park remains a glaring problem that will be exposed once the club returns to elite European competition.