Marcelo Bielsa is finally back in work after leaving Leeds United in February 2022 – taking his third role as a National Team manager with Uruguay, and it will see him work with Leeds target and Sporting Lisbon ace Manuel Ugarte.
Having been linked with the likes of Everton and Bournemouth and open to a possible return to the Premier League after his Leeds exit, Bielsa has finally earned himself a new role. It is the 13th different managerial spell of his career.
It comes after Newell’s, Atlas, Club America, Velez Sarsfield, Espanyol, Argentina, Argentina’s U23’s, Chile, Bilbao, Lazio, Lille, Marseille and Leeds. His contract will last until the 2026 World Cup, and see him face his own nation.
He will be tasked with going as far as possible in the 2024 Copa America in the United States and qualification for the World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada. But he will also be working with a player in Ugarte, that Leeds want.
Portuguese newspaper Record claimed in April – before the exit of Victor Orta – that Leeds had held talks with Ugarte. A player that has a release clause of £53m and any chance of a signing would depend on top-tier survival.
Marcelo Bielsa to work with Leeds target Manuel Ugarte at Uruguay
The chances of Leeds signing Ugarte, even if the club stay up, are slim. He is a player that has won the Portuguese division, and would obliterate are current record transfer. But he is a top, top talent and has plenty of interest in him.
Indeed, the likes of Aston Villa and Tottenham – who could be both in Europe next season – are interested. They are much more likely to be able to spend the kind of cash needed to get him. But, Bielsa is now set to work with Ugarte.
