Nigerian music icon Davido had fans in stitches on social media during the thrilling Champions League semi-final clash between Inter and Barcelona on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, as he shared a comical tale of his most painful football heartbreak—courtesy of none other than Harry Maguire.
As the tension in the game soared, Davido tweeted, “Football ehn fit give person BP … I remember when CR7 personally invite me come watch match for Old Trafford then couple years ago … He don book dinner ALL! Party chillin etc …. Nah so dem go lose match .. BABA VEX GO HOUSE .. since that day I still never forgive Maguire.”
Football ehn fit give person BP … I remember when CR7 personally invite me come watch match for Old trafford then couple years ago … He don book dinner ALL! Party chillin etc …. Nah so dem go lose match .. BABA VEX GO HOUSE .. since that day I still never forgive Maguire 😂😂
Afrobeats sensation Davido recounted a humorous yet disappointing experience after being personally invited by Cristiano Ronaldo to watch a Manchester United game at Old Trafford.
The evening was meant to be a memorable one, with plans for a celebratory night out, including dinner and partying after the match.
However, things quickly took a turn when United lost the game—putting a damper on the festive mood. Ronaldo, visibly upset, left immediately after the match without saying much, abruptly ending all post-game plans.
Davido, poking fun at the situation, said he’s still not over it—not because of Ronaldo, but because of Harry Maguire, whom he jokingly blames for ruining the night.
Harry Maguirehas called on Manchester United’s players to take accountability for their recent poor performances, rather than placing the blame on embattled manager Erik ten Hag.
With just three wins from nine matches this season, Ten Hag faces increasing scrutiny as United prepare for their upcoming clash against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Tensions escalated further after United squandered a two-goal advantage in a 3-3 draw against FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday. However, Maguire believes the responsibility lies with the players, not the manager, for the team’s struggles.
“As a footballer, it’s easy to look around and blame other people and blame your teammate or blame the staff or the tactics,” Maguire said.
“You’ve got to look at yourself. We’re the ones that go on the pitch. We’re the ones that have to defend. You’ve got to take responsibility.”
Sources have told ESPN that Ten Hag could face the sack if his team loses at Villa Park on Sunday.
United did the double over Villa last season — winning 2-1 at Villa Park in February — and Maguire believes a similar result on Sunday could finally kick-start their season.
“We’ve got to find belief within ourselves,” he said. “Take the belief from what we did last season at Villa Park. It was on fire last season there. Then we went there and got the victory that we needed last season. And we feel like we’re playing better than we were last season.
“The results haven’t been there. I feel like we should have more points on the board. But they’re not, so we need to do something about it starting with Sunday.”
Harry Maguire has experienced a rollercoaster week, coming off the bench to score a stoppage-time equaliser in Manchester United’s 3-3 draw against FC Porto, despite learning earlier that day that he had been excluded from the latest England squad.
The 31-year-old expressed his surprise at interim head coach Lee Carsley’s decision but shared that he had been reassured about his future with the national team.
“He [Carsely] told me I’m a big part of the future,” Maguire said. “He just wants to see the other lads playing in this camp. And he doesn’t want to take me if I’m not going to start either game [against Greece and Finland], which is fair enough.
“Of course I’m disappointed. I want to play every game for England. But I know where he’s coming from, and I’ve got to make sure that I perform when I’m on the pitch and give him no option to leave me out.
“I was a little bit surprised, I must say. But obviously I back his decision and he’s told me I’m part of the future.”. He emphasized the underutilization of solar energy in Africa and described the situation as tragic
Harry Maguire has confessed that rumors about Erik ten Hag’s jobsecurity impacted Manchester United’s performances last season.
United ended up eighth in the Premier League but salvaged their disappointing season with a victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Securing a second trophy in two years ensured Ten Hag retained his position, but Maguire noted that the ongoing speculation about the Dutchman’s potential dismissal affected the players throughout the season.
“It was tough,” Maguire said in an interview in Los Angeles at the start of United’s U.S. tour.
“It probably did damage our performances and results throughout the season maybe a little bit. Especially when it happened around that Christmas period when we really did fall off. But credit to the manager, the way that he handled it.”
A report leading up to the cup final indicated that Erik ten Hag would be dismissed regardless of the outcome against City.
Despite defying expectations and winning 2-1, Harry Maguire mentioned that the atmosphere at the post-match celebration in London was muted due to ongoing speculation about the manager’s future.
“It was so strange,” Maguire said. “No one really knew what was going on. No one had assurance.
“If you asked the players, they’ll probably just say they didn’t really know because no one really had a clue. It was really impressive with the way that he handled that week with a victory against probably the best team in Europe at the moment.”
Sources have told ESPN that United spoke to a number of other managerial candidates including Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi before deciding to stickwith Ten Hag.
The club have since extended his contract by a year and Maguire believes it’s the right decision.
Harry Maguire signed with Manchester United in 2019 on a six-year contract. Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images “He has shown we can beat the top teams and we have won two trophies in two years,” the defender said.
“The first season was really good, last season wasn’t. Last season was tough for Erik as well. There was so much uncertainty and the amount of injuries was freakish really and I am pretty confident that won’t happen this season. “We have faith in the management team and the additions he has made are really good as well.”
Maguire is fit again after missing the cup final and the European Championship with a calf injury.
The 31-year-old described missing the Wembley showpiece and the Euros as the “toughest moment of his career.”
However, after completing extra training sessions with a United coach while on holiday in Portugal, he is now ready to return in a friendly against Arsenal at SoFi Stadium on Saturday.
Despite being linked with a move awayfrom Old Traffordthis summer, he insists he wants to stay.
“Until I get told you’re up for sale or we want you to leave I want to play for this club and make it successful again,” he said.
“All the things I’m hearing and seeing from everyone involved is I’ll be part of this club for the future.”
Harry Maguire creditshis ability to handle the intense scrutiny of playing for Manchester United for helping him overcome harsh criticism.
The defender made the switch from Leicester City to United in 2019 for a staggering £80 million ($102m), but his performances arguably did not justify the hefty price tag.
Throughout much of 2021 and 2022, Maguire struggled to find form, resulting in severe criticism directed at him. At one point, it appeared that he was on the brink of joining West Ham in 2023.
However, the 6’4″ centre-back remained determined to prove himself under Erik ten Hag’s management. This season, Maguire has shown signs of improvement in his performances, a turnaround he attributes in part to his resilient mindset.
He told talkSPORT: “First and foremost, it’s a huge honour and a massive privilege to play for a club with so much history. It’s a huge club and I love playing for it. It means so much to me and there’s so many ups and downs, the scrutiny is there, everybody knows that.
The pressure is there because we’re the most spoken-about club in the world – for sure in this country. That’s just the way it is and you have to get used to it.
You’ve got to be able to deal with it. As an individual, you can’t look too much into it, you just have to look after yourself during the week and prepare as well as you can. Then you approach the matchday with confidence. The preparation gives you the confidence to deal with the pressure of playing for such a huge, iconic club.”
Despite Harry Maguire’s improved performances, Manchester United has endured a disappointing season overall. The team finished eighth in the Premier League, failed to retain their Carabao Cup title, and ended up at the bottom of their Champions League group.
Manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly under pressure to keep his job. If Manchester United fails to secure victory in the FA Cup final this weekend, this season will be regarded as a catastrophe.
Maguire, who has been included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad for Euro 2024, is set to feature for United in their FA Cup final showdown against bitter rivalsManchester City at Wembleyon Saturday.
The defender sustained a muscle problem during training, ruling him out of the team’s final four league matches against Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Brighton.
Despite this setback, Maguire remains optimistic about his availability for the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25.
Additionally, he hopes to be fully fit for England’s campaign at the upcoming European Championship, which kicks off against Serbia on June 16.
Maguire’s absence adds to the defensive woes of manager Erik ten Hag, who is already missing Lisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelöf, Raphaël Varane, and Willy Kambwala.
Jonny Evans, who has been out for nearly two months due to injury, has returned to training ahead of the match against Crystal Palace.
With several central defenders unavailable, Ten Hag has deployed midfielder Casemiro in the center-back position in recent games.
Despite being out of contention for next season’s Champions League, United remains eager to secure points to ensure qualification for European competitions.
However, recent wins for Newcastle and Chelsea have left United in eighth place in the Premier League table, jeopardizing their chances of qualifying for the Europa League or Europa Conference League.
The FA Cup remains United’s avenue to Europa League qualification, with victory in the tournamentsecuring their spot.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has responded to Ghanaian MP Isaac Adongo after the latter issued an apology for his previous comments about the center-back.
Last year, Adongo gained attention for drawing parallels between Maguire’s performances at Manchester United and the economic challenges faced by Ghana.
On Tuesday, the Bolgatanga Central Member of Parliament extended an apology to Maguire, acknowledging the positive transformation in the player’s form.
“Mr Speaker, you’ll remember last year I was very quick to compare my big brother, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to Harry Maguire. Mr Speaker, I now apologise to Maguire.
“Honourable Kyei Mensah, you got angry when I used your defender,” he said on the floor of Parliament, as sighted on social media.
“Mr Speaker, today Harry Maguire has been able to turn the corner around and he is a transformational footballer. Maguire is now scoring goals for Manchester United. Maguire is now a key player for Manchester United.” Maguire replied to the post on X, accepting the MP’s apology while inviting him to Old Trafford.
“MP Issac Adongo, apology accepted. See you at Old Trafford soon,” he reposted.
MP Issac Adongo apology accepted . See you at Old Trafford soon 🤝😊
Maguire is enjoying a decent campaign this season, making 11 appearances across all competitions this season.
In a recent development, the Honourable Isaac Adongo, the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, issued an apology to Harry Maguire a year after making derogatory remarks about the Manchester United defender.
The MP gained attention last year for drawing comparisons between the footballer and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Adongo commended Maguire for what he described as a “positive transformation” while simultaneously criticising Dr. Bawumia for the country’s economic situation.
Manchester United’s Harry Maguireconveyed his gratitude to English fans while emphasising that he feels valued on a global scale in the football community.
Despite facing criticism from specific segments of United fans, the defender asserted that he is genuinely appreciated worldwide.
Maguire expressed the privilege he feels in realising his childhood dream of representing his nation.
Reflecting on his experiences as an England international, Maguire fondly reminisced about the memorable moments. However, he indicated that it is imperative for the Three Lions to secure major trophies at this juncture.
Speaking to reporters, Maguire said: “Listen, playing for my country means everything; it’s a huge honour and playing for my country is such a big privilege for me; it’s what I dreamed of as a kid, so every time there’s a game I want to available, I want to play every minute, start every game and help the lads.
“It’s been a really successful six years for me since I made my debut, and also for the team, but now we just need to get over the line. I know I’m appreciated in the dressing room. I know I’m appreciated in the football world by coaches, players, and the support I have from former players and managers, and I know I’m really appreciated in the world of football.
“I know I’m appreciated by the England fans with whom I have made many memories over the years and that’s the most important thing for me.”
The 30-year-old found himself marginalised after the arrival of Erik ten Hag to Manchester United last season, featuring in just 16 Premier League games and accumulating a mere 759 minutes on the pitch.
Despite the challenges, Maguire persisted. Following Lisandro Martinez’s injury at the end of September, Maguire has become a consistent presence on the club’s team sheet.
While rumours linked him to a potential move away from the club during the summer, with reported interest from West Ham, Maguire opted to fight for his place.
The former Leicester City star is poised to take the field for his club in the upcoming Sunday fixture, where Ten Hag’s side will face Everton in a crucial encounter. Currently sitting in sixth place on the Premier League table, United trail the leaders Manchester City by seven points.
A politician from Ghana said sorry to English soccer player Harry Maguire for saying he was not good at his job. The politician had compared Maguire to the vice president of Ghana.
Last year, the MP said that Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia did a bad job with Ghana’s economy and compared him to a soccer player who scores goals for the other team.
But Isaac Adongo, a member of parliament, said on Tuesday that the Manchester United defender’s luck had improved.
“Sorry, Harry Maguire. I apologize” Today, Harry Maguire has improved a lot and become a really good football player,” he said in parliament while talking about money.
He complained about Mr. Bawumia’s work as vice-president and head of Ghana’s Economic Management Team. He said it has made the country owe more money and could harm its economy.
Harry Maguire is an important player for Manchester, but our Maguire, Mr. Bawumia, is now working at the IMF with a cup in hand,” he said.
Ghana is facing its worst economic crisis in a long time.
“Inflation went up to 54% last year, and is still at more than 35% now. “
The Member of Parliament representing Bolga Central, Isaac Adongo, has expressed regret during Tuesday’s 2024 budget debate for his earlier comparison of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to footballer Harry Maguire.
Adongo admitted that his analogy may have been misplaced, acknowledging Maguire’s recent success as a transformative footballer, in stark contrast to his characterization of Bawumia as “roaming at the IMF with a cup in hand.”
“Mr Speaker you remember that last year I was very quick to compare Dr Bawumia to Harry Maguire. Mr Speaker, I now apologize to Harry Maguire. Today, Harry Maguire has turned the corner and he is a transformational footballer. He is now scoring goals for Manchester United, he is now a key player to Manchester but as for our Maguire (Bawumia), he is now roaming at the IMF with a cup in hand. Our economic Maguire now was able to get pensioners to leave their house and come and parade in the streets,” he said.
Addressing the Speaker, Adongorecalled his swift comparison in 2022, where he criticized Bawumia’s performance as the Head of the Economic Management Team, drawing parallels to Maguire’s perceived threat to his own team’s defense due to scoring own goals.
In his original critique, Adongo commended Bawumia’s initial reputation as an “economic wizard” pre-2016 but argued that once in a central economic role, Bawumia had become a risk to the nation’s economic goals, asserting, “Our Economic Maguire is now tackling all the fundamentals of our economy and destroying all of them.”
The ongoing parliamentary discussions on the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, which commenced on November 21, 2023, have set specific time allocations to encourage broad participation. The proposed timetable has designated 20 minutes for the seconder and Ranking Members of the Finance Committee, 15 minutes for other committee members, and 10 minutes for all other Members of Parliament (MPs).
The comprehensive debate is organized around various sectors, encompassing governance, security, public safety, finance, economy, energy, infrastructure, social sectors, local governance, youth, sports, tourism, and culture.
The schedule for Tuesday covers discussions on finance, agriculture, trade, and industry, while Wednesday’s focus includes communications, energy, roads, works and housing, sanitation, and the environment. Thursday’s agenda encompasses education, health, employment, youth and sports, tourism, culture, and chieftaincy.
On Friday, the debate will centre around governance, addressing topics such as local government, judiciary, defense, interior, the Electoral Commission, National Commission for Civil Education, and Commission on Human Rights and Administration of Justice.
The English international has been gradually improving his form in a Red Devils’ shirt, showcasing impressive performances in recent matches.
Maguire’s strong performance against Brentford was followed by an even more remarkable display against Copenhagen.
He played a pivotal role by scoring the winning goal, which revived United’s hopes in the race to reach the Champions League last-16, following two consecutive defeats against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
Tim Sherwood commended Maguire for his resilience and determination to remain at United, even though it was apparent that he wasn’t initially in Ten Hag’s plans.
Sherwood now believes that the Dutch manager should extend an apology to the defender for initially excluding him from his plans.
“Maguire was getting shoved out the door and you could see that the manager was trying to edge him out but he didn’t want to leave. He probably looked around the dressing room, saw how flaky the other players in his position were and decided that he’d eventually get some minutes,” he told William Hill and Footy Accumulators’ podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football.
“As a manager, when you have a player like Maguire who wants to give everything for the cause and leave nothing on the pitch, you can deal with that. The problem is when people go hiding and they don’t want to leave the treatment room because they want to be at 110% for every game they play, but that is never going to happen. I think he will play a lot more now, and I think Erik ten Hag owes him an apology,” he added.
The Old Trafford faithful was heard singing “his head’s f* massiiive, 1, 2, 3, 4”, a song Leicester fans affectionately penned for Maguire after he emerged as their hero on a Champions League night.
“Sherwood believes that the chorus will only grow stronger and louder as the defender will get more minutes in the upcoming matches in the absence of first-choice centre-back Lisandro Martinez.
“I think he’ll play a lot more football now because he’s made the manager realise it’s not all about superstars. Sometimes you need character, heart and personality to play at Old Trafford, and he has all of those. He might not be the greatest, but he’s certainly not the worst,” he said.
“The fans appreciate and recognise that he wants to be back in action for United. You can always turn things around by showing heart and playing for the badge, and that is exactly what he has shown. All of a sudden, he can turn the fans around and if you do turn them around they’ll never forget that,” he added.
Former footballer Mesut Ozil, who has played forReal Madrid and Arsenal, praised the performances of Manchester United’s Andre Onana and Harry Maguire in their recent victory over Copenhagen.
In this match, Maguire scored the decisive goal that secured the win, while Onana made a critical penalty save in the 90th minute, helping Manchester United secure their first victory in the UEFA Champions League.
Ozil took to Twitter to assert that these two players, who have faced ongoing criticism, had heroic moments that could silence their detractors.
Many Manchester United fans saw Onana’s penalty save and Maguire’s winning goal as a fitting response to critics, who have often been quick to point out their occasional errors.
Andre Onana delivered an outstanding performance that night, highlighted by his crucial penalty save.
Despite facing an expected goal rate of 1.69, he made four saves and kept a clean sheet.
His performance earned him FotMob’s Man of the Match award, with a rating of 8.4.
The narrow victory elevated Manchester United to third place in their group, trailing second-place Galatasary by one point (4 points to 5).
Bayern Munich led the group with 9 points, while Copenhagen remained at the bottom with 1 point.
Harry Maguire & Andre Onana deserve that – silencing their haters 🤫 #UCL#ManUnited
🔺 Harry Maguire—stripped of the captaincy over the summer 🔺 André Onana—fallen under heavy criticism early in his United career pic.twitter.com/iECZLQ98Uc
Former Manchester United forward, Dimitar Berbatov, has expressed his belief that Harry Maguire has the potential to follow a redemption path reminiscent of David Beckham’s at Old Trafford.
Berbatov, aged 42, has proposed that Maguire, following his impressive showing against Brentford, could embark on a similar journey as Beckham, who rebounded from disappointment at the 1998 World Cup to have one of his best seasons in the Premier League.
“Harry Maguire was good against Brentford. The only thing he can do is stay concentrated when given the chance to perform and not make silly mistakes,” Berbatov told Betfair.
“When he speaks, you can see that Harry is confident in his ability. When he was given the captain’s armband, his confidence obviously increased, but so did his ego.
“Now that the captain’s armband has been taken away, his ego is hurt. He needs to start rebuilding his relationship with the fans again. The chance is there for him to show he can handle everything again.
“Maybe, like we saw in the Beckham documentary, Harry is going through that tough time right now but hopefully, in the end he can find redemption at the end of his own movie.”
During the summer transfer window, there were strong links between Maguire and a potential departure from the club, particularly with West Ham United expressing interest.
However, Maguire has stayed put and may now contend for a spot in the starting lineup, given that injuries have sidelined players like Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, and Luke Shaw.
Speaking on his United future while on international duty with England, Maguire said, “I am not going to sit here all my life and play once a month. If it carries on, I am sure myself and the club will sit down and have a chat about things.
“It’s not my decision whether I start the next game for United or not. In a couple of weeks, I’ll go back and find out. At the moment, I haven’t been playing anywhere near as much as I would like. That is the bottom line.”
During the summer transfer window, there were strong links between Maguire and a potential departure from the club, particularly with West Ham United expressing interest.
However, Maguire has stayed put and may now contend for a spot in the starting lineup, given that injuries have sidelined players like Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, and Luke Shaw.
Harry Maguire has condemned those fans who jeered Jordan Henderson during international matches at Wembley, stating that “proper England fans do not boo players.”
Henderson faced jeers as he left the pitch in Friday’s 1-0 friendly victory over Australia, and he expressed his disappointment about the negative reception.
The 33-year-old midfielder has faced criticism for leaving his role as Liverpool captain to join Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League in July.
During his time at Anfield, Henderson was a prominent advocate for LGBTQ rights, and he recently apologized for any pain his move to a country where homosexuality is illegal may have caused.
There were murmurs of discontent when Henderson’s name was announced before the Australia match, and a vocal minority audibly jeered when he was substituted in the second half.
Some boos were also heard as he came off the bench in Tuesday’s 3-1 Euro 2024 qualifying victory against Italy.
“Proper England fans don’t boo players,” he told Sky Sports.
“Don’t boo players who dedicate their life to play and do everything they can to make this country have good memories and special moments for them and the fans and their families.
“I know a lot of top, topEngland fans and I know the England fans who have been with me ever since my debut.
“They’re right behind me and they’re right behind Jordan as well.
“You heard a lot of cheers and yes, a few jeers, but they aren’t England fans.”
Henderson, who was named captain against the Socceroos, and Maguire are likely to retain the faith of Gareth Southgate despite some negative reactions, as the England boss said on the eve of the Italy game he could not pick his team on a “popularity contest”.
Harry Maguire has suggested that he could leave Manchester United in January, with the out-of-favour defender not prepared to “play once a month”.
The England international centre-half has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford, with the club captaincy being taken off him in the process.
Maguire has taken in just 116 minutes of Premier League football this season, with Erik ten Hag not convinced by what the 30-year-old has to offer.
Maguire saw a transfer speculated on over the summer and admits that he may have to seek a move in the next window. He has said while away on England duty: “I am not going to sit here all my life and play once a month and if it carries on, I am sure myself and the club will sit down and have a chat. I want to play minutes; I want to play football.”
While being overlooked by Ten Hag on a regular basis, Maguire claims his record under the Dutch coach is deserving of more opportunities.
He added: “If you look back on my last 15-20 starts for club and country, I would be happy to sit here and say I’m really happy with my performances. My record under this manager(Ten Hag) speaks for itself. I haven’t started as many games as I would like but my win percentage when I’ve played is ridiculously high.
“Of course, there are times when I could do more and times when I could improve and help the team. I can only do what I’ve been doing when I’ve come into the team—bringing positive performances. But I’m just wanting to help the team; I’m wanting to help the team get out of this position we’re in at the moment.”
In the 2023-24 season, Manchester United’s performance as a team has been erratic, amassing only 12 points from eight games, which positions them in 10th place on the Premier League standings. Furthermore, the Red Devils have encountered consecutive losses in the Champions League, falling to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
Harry Maguire has shared that a personal phone call from David Beckham provided him with support in dealing with the abuse from fans.
The abuse has been so severe at times that his family chose to stay away from games.
The 30-year-old had a challenging experience when he came on as a substitute in England’s 3-1 victory against Scotland last month. Ironically, he was cheered onto the field by thousands of home fans, only to face jeers with every touch, including an unfortunate own goal in the 67th minute.
Previously, Maguire had been a target of abuse by Arsenal fans while representing Manchester United at Emirates Stadium. Additionally, the center-back has been subjected to a wave of social media abuse after falling out of favor under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
England boss Gareth Southgate claimed after the Scotland game that “I’ve never known a player treated the way he is,” and Maguire disclosed that Beckham rang him a few days after the game to offer his support.
Beckham endured a torrid reaction from angry England fans to his red card in the Three Lions’ 1998 World Cup round of 16 defeat to Argentina.
A recent Netflix documentary revealed his father, Ted, was sent bullets in the post, and an effigy of Beckham being hung by his neck was displayed in a south London pub, while David and his wife Victoria later received messages threatening to kidnap their first-born son, Brooklyn, after his birth in March 1999.
Speaking about the call from Beckham, now 48, Maguire said, “It meant everything. I’ve spoken throughout my career about David Beckham being someone I looked up to and watched when I was a young boy.
“Unfortunately I didn’t end up on the right wing scoring and assisting as many goals as he has. But he was a big role model when I was growing up. It shows how classy he is to reach out to me and to message me. It was something I really appreciated. It was really touching.
“I don’t want to go too much into the conversation but the main thing he did was remind me of the career I’ve had to date and the big moments I’ve had in my career.
“I think when you’re going through tough moments, you’ve got to go through past experiences and past memories, where you’ve gone in your career and what you’ve been through.
“Every career is so up and down, especially when you reach what I’ve reached in terms of being the captain of the biggest club in the world for three-and-a-half years. He’s been in that position and knows what it’s like.
“Obviously having watched the documentary I couldn’t believe how much he went through at the time. In the documentary, Gary Neville speaks about how resilient he is as a person.I think he’s been a huge role model for many footballers growing up, especially in my era.”
Zoe has posted a heartfelt statement on social media condemning the treatment of the Manchester United player. During England’s recent friendly against Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Maguire was brought on as a substitute when Marc Guehi suffered an injury.
Regrettably, Maguire then unintentionally scored an own goal in the 67th minute by inadvertently redirecting a Scotland cross into his team’s net.
She wrote: “As a mum seeing the level of negative and abusive comments which my son is receiving from some fans, pundits and the media is disgraceful and totally unacceptable to any walk of life, never mind someone who works his socks off for club and country.”
“I was there in the stand as usual, It’s not acceptable what’s been created over nothing. I understand that in the football world there are ups and downs, positives and negatives but what Harry receives has gone far beyond ‘football’.”
“For me, seeing him go through what he’s going through is not okay. I would hate to have to see any other parents or players go through this in the future, especially the young boys and girls breaking through the ranks today.
“Harry has a massive heart and it’s a good job he’s mentally strong and can handle it, as others may not be able to. I wish this sort of abuse on nobody.”
Following the game, England manager Gareth Southgate expressed his frustration at the treatment Harry Maguire received, describing it as “a joke”.
Southgate also implied that this unfair treatment was a consequence of an unjust narrative that has developed around Maguire over the past few years.
During the summer, there were rumours linking Maguire to a potential move to West Ham, but the transfer did not materialise.
As a result, the former Manchester United captain has continued to struggle for playing time under Erik ten Hag.
Despite facing taunts from the fans, Maguire has affirmed his ability to handle the pressure and remains confident about getting playing opportunities at Old Trafford this season, even though he has fallen down the pecking order.
After Harry Maguire‘s proposed transfer to West Ham fell through, Erik ten Hag gave a harsh appraisal of his chances of fighting his way back into his plans.
The England defender has had a difficult 18 months, and as a result, his manager has moved him down the central defensive pecking order behind left-back Luke Shaw.
When Ten Hag abruptly withdrew the 30-year-old of his position as club captain earlier this summer, Maguire seemed to have little chance of recovery.
Later, United and West Ham reached an agreement worth £30 million, but this week’s sale failed because Maguire reportedly wanted to stay at Old Trafford and compete for a starting position.
When asked how much football Maguire could anticipate playing this season, Ten Hag scoffed, “It’s up to him [how much he plays].”
He is aware of what I am capable of. You already know what I expect from a centre half since I’ve been here for a year.
“And he can do it; I’ve told you repeatedly that he has the capacity to do it; he just needs to demonstrate it.”
“Then it comes down to character; he has all the skills to play that role, and it is up to him when the time [opportunity] is there,” the author writes.
We need a strong squad, and Harry is one of our players. With Luke Shaw, we have five strong centre backs, and we need that because we will play 50 to 60 games this season.
“We have a very heavy load to cover because all the players are internationals, so I’m glad Harry Maguire is here.”
Benjamin Pavard, a versatile defender for Bayern Munich, had been linked to a move to United, but Maguire’s continued association with the team seems to have allayed the need for reinforcements.
All of the positions in our team are covered, but since we are Manchester United, we are constantly searching for ways to get better. When the chance arises, we will take advantage in the upcoming two weeks.
As I previously stated, we are constantly looking for opportunities, but I believe our squad is strong. With this squad, we are confident that we can achieve our goals.
Harry Maguire has been ‘humiliated’ by his manager Erik ten Hag, according to Dwight Yorke, who has urged him to leave Manchester United.
The 18-month ordeal for the England international ended in his being relieved of his duties as United captain earlier this summer.
Maguire started the new campaign on the sidelines as Ten Hag’s team struggled to a lucky 1-0 victory over Wolves at Old Trafford.
The manager of United chose to open the second half with Victor Lindelof rather than bringing on Harry Maguire at halftime despite taking Lisandro Martinez off.
Maguire had been in discussions to join West Ham, but the agreement fell through because he couldn’t reach a personal understanding.
Ten Hag is believed to be pleased to keep Maguire on board because he sees him as the ideal team member, but former United striker Yorke thinks the 30-year-old should look for a new challenge.
In light of the manager’s public comments on Harry Maguire fighting for his spot, York told OLBG, “I don’t think Harry Maguire will be an option for squad depth now.”
His confidence will be down after losing his captaincy, therefore he needs to focus on being the best in his position at the club.
Imagine how your confidence would be affected if Luke Shaw started in your position while you were still on the bench.
Maguire may have a different opinion, and that’s his right, but in my opinion, Maguire leaving Manchester United is a no-brainer. His standing in the locker room would have suffered, and he would have felt ashamed of what had happened in recent weeks.
If Jonny Evans signs a one-year deal, it will be clear what Erik ten Hag’s plans are with regard to Maguire.
The proposed transfer ofHarry Maguire to West Ham for a £30 million ($38 million) deal has fallen through, and as of now, the English player intends to stay at Old Trafford for the upcoming season, sources have informed ESPN.
Harry Maguire is reportedly committed to remaining with Manchester United this summer, as per insiders.
The anticipated move of Maguire to West Ham, valued at £30 million ($38 million), has not materialised, leaving Maguire set to continue his tenure at Old Trafford this season.
Sources have shared that Manchester United is open to receiving offers for the 30-year-old defender.
However, Manager Erik ten Hag has communicated to Maguire that he still has a place within the squad.
According to ESPN’s sources, the club would have needed to secure a replacement for Maguire, but the timing is deemed too late to initiate a search for a new defender.
During the recent 1-0 victory over Wolves, Maguire was listed on the bench but did not make an appearance.
West Ham had displayed interest in acquiring Maguire, but they are now exploring alternative targets.
Last week, Manchester United reportedly accepted West Ham’s offer of approximately £30 million.
The sources also indicated that the club was willing to contribute a portion of Maguire’s contract to facilitate the transfer.
Maguire currently has two years remaining on his contract with Old Trafford, and a move to the London Stadium would have required him to agree to a reduced salary.
Despite being behind Lisandro Martnez and Raphaël Varane in the team’s hierarchy, Maguire reportedly holds the belief that he will receive opportunities to play for Manchester United in the upcoming season.
In light of reports suggesting that defender Harry Maguire is on the brink of finalising a move to West Ham, manager Erik ten Hag has expressed the view that if Maguire lacks the necessary confidence to compete for his spot, he should consider departing Manchester United.
Ten Hag had earlier removed the captain’s armband from Maguire last month, primarily due to the 30-year-old’s limited involvement in the previous Premier League season, having started only eight matches.
This came as central defensive preferences leaned towards Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Victor Lindelof.
Recent information from British media has indicated that West Ham and Maguire have reached an agreement worth £30 million ($38.01 million) for the transfer. Maguire, whom United acquired from Leicester City for a record-breaking £80 million in 2019, originally became the world’s most expensive defender.
“He has to fight for his place, and he has the abilities to be a top-class centre-back,” Ten Hag told reporters. “He is the best for England, and I assume he will be the best for us, but he has to prove it.
“When he is not confident enough to go in and fight, then he has to go. He has to make a decision. But I am happy with him… You need high-level players who are maybe not starting, but that can change.”
While Manchester United has accepted a £30 million (€34m/$38m) bid from West Ham for Maguire, the transfer has yet to be finalized.
With this deal nearing completion, Manchester United has reportedly shifted their focus towards Bayern Munich’s versatile defender, Pavard.
According to information from Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League team has engaged in discussions with the Bundesliga champions, although there has been no approval from Bayern Munich for the deal.
Pavard, who primarily plays as a right-back for Bayern, is reportedly keen on leaving the Bundesliga club as he has no intentions of extending his contract, which expires in 2024.
The 27-year-old Frenchman is seen as a suitable replacement for Maguire, with Manchester United aiming to offload Maguire and recoup a portion of the £80 million ($101.9 million) they paid to Leicester City in 2019 – a then-world record fee for a defender.
Notably, Pavard, who is also capable of performing as a centre-back, has reportedly garnered the admiration of Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag.
Manchester United is scheduled to kick off their season on Monday, August 14, against Wolves, while Bayern Munich begins their Bundesliga campaign the subsequent Friday against Werder Bremen.
It remains uncertain whether Maguire and Pavard will still be part of their respective teams when these matches take place.
Everton is keeping a close watch on the developments surrounding Harry Maguire, followingWest Ham’s unsuccessful attempt to secure the services of the center-back, which was turned down by Manchester United.
United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, is striving to make two additional signings to strengthen the team before the summer transfer window concludes.
However, the club’s ability to finalise new acquisitions is contingent upon making sales.
West Ham recently presented a dual offer of £60 million ($77 million) for Maguire and Scott McTominay, but this bid was rebuffed.
According to reports from the Independent, Everton has now entered the scene, closely observing Maguire’s situation following West Ham’s failed bid.
Maguire himself is eager to depart the club in pursuit of more playing time, a crucial factor leading up to Euro 2024.
While the Red Devils have a keen interest in adding midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and Nice center-back Jean-Clair Todibo to their roster, the feasibility of these signings hinges on the revenue generated from their sales.
Manchester United will kick off their 2023–24 Premier League season against Wolves on August 14.
The manager of Manchester United, Erik ten Hag, openly admitted that his team conceded a ‘stupid’ goal against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Maguire’s costly mistake placed the Red Devils on the defensive from the outset of the match against the Spanish side.
The 30-year-old’s careless pass played Nico Williams in behind the defence, and the teenager capitalised on the opportunity, scoring past Tom Heaton to give Athletic Bilbao an early lead in the match held in Dublin.
“We have shown that this weekend was a good weekend for us. Yesterday I thought it was a very good level, and today I have also seen very good spells. I think the start of the game was also very good, and we should have scored a goal to go up, because it was a great chance from Jadon Sancho,” he told reporters.
“We had some good moments after that as well, and it was stupid how we went down, but as I said, we had a result and we came back, so it was a good weekend for us.”
West Ham have shown interest in signing Maguire during this summer transfer window. However, the initial bid of £20 million made by West Ham was swiftly rejected by the Red Devils.
It remains to be seen whether Manchester United will reconsider their stance on the transfer after witnessing another error from their former captain.
The situation is certainly worth keeping an eye on as the transfer window progresses.
Following his £48 million ($62 million) transfer fromInter to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window, the Cameroonian goalkeeper, Andre Onana wasted no time getting started.
He showcased his exceptional distribution skills in his initial series of pre-season matches.
Onana also grabbed attention when he was observed rushing out of his goal to express his displeasure with teammate Maguire during a friendly against Dortmund.
Nevertheless, Martinez views this incident as a natural part of football and believes there’s no issue with Onana’s reactions.
“It’s better for [it], it’s better for [it]. If you are focused, you can fight with your teammates as well, you need to make sure everyone is really sharp, but nothing happened. It’s part of football,” commented the United centre-back.
Martinez has a history of playing alongside Onana during their shared time at Ajax.
He lauded the goalkeeper for his “big personality” and expressed his confidence in Onana’s ability to excel at the highest level with Manchester United.
Former English International, Gabriel Agbonlahor, has shared his opinion on the incident where Manchester United goalkeeperAndre Onana screamed at Harry Maguire during their friendly against Borussia Dortmund.
According to Agbonlahor, Onana’s reaction towards Maguire was unjustified, as Maguire was not responsible for the mistake that occurred.
Agbonlahor expressed his disapproval of Onana’s actions, suggesting that Maguire was targeted unfairly.
He further questioned whether Onana would behave similarly towards Lisandro Martinez, indicating that such behavior was uncalled for on the football pitch.
“First of all, Harry Maguire did do anything wrong. He played the ball to a midfielder and the midfielder gave it away. And I feel like he is the easy target and I don’t like that from Onana. Are you going to do that to Martinez?
Are you going to rush to him like that? I think Maguire is an easy target and I didn’t like the look of that. I would understand it if it was a big mistake and caused a goal or it was Harry Maguire’s fault then fair enough.
“But I want to see the same energy for every player from him,” he told TalkSports.
Agbonlahor, who feels Onana was picking on Maguire, demanded that the Cameroonian does the same to every player.
“As long as he is doing it to everyone. If Martinez does the same thing he is quite one of the leaders there who do it to everyone. Don’t just see Maguire as he has gone through that phase of life that Man United fans on social media are like leave, leave, leave.
“He is not going to react to that, I think we know Harry Maguire is thinking, keep a low profile and fight for my place. So I didn’t like it and it wasn’t a mistake by Harry Maguire,” he added.
Maguire dropped a pass during the buildup, and Dortmund nearly capitalised. However, Onana stopped Dortmund’s initial shot, and the rebound from Youssoufa Moukoko sailed out for a goal kick.
As soon as the ball was out, Onana ran over to Harry Maguire and yelled at him for giving it away, which almost resulted in a goal.
“I try to talk to them a lot because I know he’s a good player, he is one of the captains of the team. That’s big and he is good with the ball, so I would demand [from] him a lot and he’s a good, great guy,” Onana explained his actions after the game.
Manchester United eventually lost 3-2 in the pre-season game on July 21, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium in USA.
Bruno Fernandes has been appointed as the permanent captain of Manchester United, taking over the role just days after Harry Maguire was removed from the position.
The club has officially announced that Bruno Fernandes will lead the team as captain for the upcoming season.
Throughout last season, the midfielder took on the responsibility of wearing the armband on many occasions, as Harry Maguire faced challenges and eventually lost his place in the starting lineup.
Last week,Maguire disclosed that he had been informed by manager Erik ten Hag that he would no longer be the captain of the club.
However, many of Erik ten Hag’s top players, including Rashford, Maguire, Fernandes, and many others, will be absent.
The trio and a few more players have three weeks off before they can start preparing for the new season, so they are not yet required to report back to training.
Despite the fact that the majority of United players resumed training last week, those who participated in international competition in June were given an additional week off in order to recover for the pre-season
The United stars have not been resting on their laurels, however.
Maguire has been training hard in Portugal under the guidance of former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, being put through his paces alongside fellow United defender Diogo Dalot.
Fernandes has also been working hard in Portugal, training in the Algarve alongside international team-mate Joao Cancelo and Arsenal-bound Declan Rice.
Marcus Rashford has also posted pictures of himself training in a sunny climate and has recently been holidaying in the United States with Tyrell Malacia.
Maguire’s future at United is still unclear. The club are reportedly willing to sell him -but only for £50 million ($64m).
Rashford is set to sign a new contract with United which will make him the club’s highest-paid player.
After facing Leeds, United will play against Lyon in Glasgow before jetting off to the United States for their pre-season tour.
The players in question are Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho, Fred, and Scott McTominay. Ten Hag views these players as not fitting into his long-term plans and is keen to offload them within the next two weeks.
During Ten Hag’s first season at the club, these four players struggled to secure regular starting positions.
Although Sancho had the highest number of appearances among them, starting 21 out of his 26 Premier League games, Fred featured in 35 matches, albeit with only 12 starts.
Ten Hag’s decision to sell these players reflects his desire to reshape the squad according to his vision and strategy.
McTominay started 10 of his 24 Premier League matches, while Maguire started eight times, coming off the bench a further eight.
United may have a hard time getting rid of the players, with former captain Maguire in particular on high wages and the club said to be asking for around £50 million ($64.2m) for him.
The defender has also just received a wage rise.
Tottenham are reported to be in for Sancho and United may offer him in an attempt to convince the London club to part ways with Harry Kane.
Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Fred could remain in the Premier League with Fulham showing interest and Scotland international McTominay has been linked with amove to Newcastle.
The Red Devils will play their first pre-season friendly against Leeds in Oslo on July 12, a week before they meet Lyon in Edinburgh.
The Spanish team scored the opening goal to take the tie into their own hands, and Manchester United’s manager struggled to conceal his dismay.
Just seven minutes into the game, Maguire mishandled what appeared to be a straightforward pass from David De Gea, allowing the former Tottenham player Erik Lamela to pick up the ball and set Youssef En-Nesyri up for the game’s first goal.
Sevilla all but took the tie away from United early in the second half as Loic Bade made it 2-0, as per The Mirror.
The Red Devils ended up crashing out of the competition 5-2 on aggregate, with their only chance of a second piece of silverware being the FA Cup, as reported on BBC.
Maguire, De Gea mess up
After the game, many fans were critical of two players: David De Gea and Harry Maguire.
Some argued the pass from the keeper in the build-up to the first goal was once the defender should have never received, but others believe Maguire should have done much better.
For the first goal, Sevilla players wheeled away in celebration and cameras panned to Erik ten Hag, who tried his best to hide his bewilderment.
However, one could clearly see the disappointment on his face at Maguire’s costly mistake.
Erik Ten Hag looked upset after Maguire’s blunder vs Sevilla. Photo: The Mirror. Source: UGC
Legends of the game, such as Paul Scholes, did not hold back in criticising United, who were branded ‘terrible’ over the entire 90 minutes.
It remains to be seen whether Maguire will still be selected to start in the next game, which is the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The embattled defender has had to be brought in to replace Lisandro Martinez, who recently suffered a broken metatarsal that will likely keep him out for the remainder of the season.
Harry Maguire has been urged by Erik ten Hag to emulate his performance for England while playing for Manchester United in order to force his way back into the starting lineup for the Red Devils.
Before traveling to the World Cup with England and playing in all five of their games during their march to the quarterfinals, Maguire made just three Premier League starts for United this season.
Although Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have emerged as Ten Hag’s favourite combo at United this season, Gareth Southgate has consistently supported the center-back on the international scene.
Ten Hag feels that Maguire can return to Old Trafford with confidence after his outstanding performances in Qatar following England’s elimination by France on Saturday.
“I can only back him. I’ve been asked many times if he is good enough [to play for me] and it is clear he is good enough to play at the highest level,” the United manager told reporters.
“And then it is up to him to show that confidence on the pitch and he didn’t show that in all the games [for United].
“When he is playing with his confidence like now, he is a massively important player for us and that is what everyone expects. That’s what Harry expects from himself.
“He has that high standard, he wants to play at the highest level, he wants to lead the defensive line, so it is up to him. I’m sure he has the potential to play in our style and fit into our system.
“He has, for England, almost all the time good games. He had a period in Manchester where he performed badly and then, of course, there are difficulties but when he is confident in himself, he will put that on the pitch.
“When he is working hard you will get that confidence and you are seeing that with the way he is playing for England.
“We want him to bring that back to Manchester with him so he can bring it on the pitch for Manchester United. I expect from him, the team knows what they expect from him. If he does that he will be a great player for us.”
Last night hurt. Absolutely gutted. Special thanks to Gareth and you amazing fans who kept belief in me. I love my country and I hope we made you proud. 🏴🦁 pic.twitter.com/8qd4rJcaIm
Maguire missed some of United’s Premier League season due to a hamstring injury, but even when healthy, Ten Hag has preferred Martinez, Varane, and Victor Lindelof to the 29-year-old.
Ten Hag affirmed that he has no problems with Maguire and insisted that subsequent strong performances will result in a return to his starting XI.
“When I choose Rapha [Varane] it is nothing against Harry,” he continued. “Sometimes it is because one player is a lot better than the other.
“But I think I have two or three good players there in the right centre-back position.
“After Brentford, I had a feeling I had to change. He was unlucky that moment was bad for him but it doesn’t say anything about his quality that he can’t do it or my opinion about his quality.
“Rapha came in and is doing a good job. There are laws of the game in top football – you have to take your chance. Your chance will always come.
“The only thing he has to do is train well, perform well, he has games, he has rhythm and his chance will come. He will have a chance to show it and then he’s in and he will play.”
As for Maguire’s future, Ten Hag added: “Only when he doesn’t want to be in these circumstances any more. Until that moment, I am happy with him.
“I have said it to him and you, I can do nothing more. It is up to him to contribute to play himself into the team.
“We have 16 to 18 players in the squad and that is what you need at the top level if you want to play for trophies. All the number of games we have to cover and then it is about the players who construct the best team, and that team we will pick. It is nothing to do with being personal.”
As England prepared to return home from the World Cup in Qatar,captain Harry Kane said the team would be “mentally and physically stronger for the next challenge.”
England lost 2-1 in the quarter-finals, with Kane missing an 84th-minute penalty after matching England’s scoring record of 53 goals.
Gareth Southgate’s team checked out of their hotel in Al Wakrah before flying home.
“Absolutely gutted,” said Kane.
Writing on social media, the Tottenham forward added: “We’ve given it everything and it’s come down to a small detail which I take responsibility for. There’s no hiding from it, it hurts and it’ll take some time to get over it but that’s part of the sport.
“Now it’s about using the experience to be mentally and physically stronger for the next challenge. Thanks for all the support throughout the tournament – it means a lot.”
Speaking about Kane’s penalty miss, former England striker Alan Shearer told BBC Radio 5 Live: “That’s the life of a center-forward. You put yourself in those positions and it will haunt Harry for the rest of his life.”
England departed their hotel in Qatar at about 12:30 pm local time and is expected to land in the UK later on Sunday.
Players waved to fans gathered outside the hotel as they boarded a coach, with midfielder Jude Bellingham taking the time to sign memorabilia.
England center-back Harry Maguire echoed his captain’s words and also paid special tribute to Southgate, who has said he will “review and reflect” on his side’s exit with the Football Association before making a decision on his future.
Southgate, who has been England’s manager since 2016, has a contract that runs until the Euro 2024 finals.
“Last night hurt. Absolutely gutted. Special thanks to Gareth and you amazing fans who kept believing in me. I love my country and I hope we made you proud,” said Maguire on social media.
Under Southgate, England reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 final before their elimination by the defending champions in Qatar.
“Gareth has been amazing with me, amazing with every player in the team,” Maguire said in an interview.
“I’m sure if you asked every player in the team they wouldn’t be able to speak highly enough of him, his man-management, the way that this team has been built and developed over a period of time.
“Over the last five or six years with Gareth in charge, you can really see the development. I know being an England manager is so tough, they get every decision they make scrutinized, every squad they make, ‘he should be in’ or ‘he shouldn’t be in’. Every team he picks, ‘he should play or ‘he shouldn’t play’… that is being an England manager.
“He knows how to handle it. He handles everything really well and tactically he gets all the big decisions right and he has proven that again this tournament.”
Southgate was also backed by midfielder Declan Rice, who said he hoped his manager continued in the job.
“If you guys could come in and see how well everyone’s been on it, you would have thought we would have gone the whole way as a collective but for me, personally, I hope he stays,” he said.
“Obviously, I don’t know. There’s a lot of talk around that. I think he’s been brilliant for us. I think there’s a lot of criticism that’s not deserved. I think he’s taken us so, so far. Further than what people can expect.
“He got everything spot on again, it’s not on him. It’s not on him at all – the tactics were right, and we played the right way.
“I really hope he stays because the core group that we’ve got and what he’s made for us, it’s so special to be a part of. I love playing under him and I love playing for England.”
‘We will come again’
Marcus Rashford was among a host of England players who posted on social media on Sunday, with the Manchester United forward promising that the Three Lions “will come again”.
Rashford was England’s joint-top scorer with Bukayo Saka in Qatar, scoring three goals.
“The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions, each and every one of our team gave everything we had to be ready for what was thrown at us, we got close, but not close enough,” he said.
“I’ll make a promise that we will come again.”
Midfielder Jordan Henderson said it was a “tough one to take”, adding “sometimes football isn’t fair”.
Earlier, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said the team was “hurting” after the last-eight defeat.
“Like all England fans we feel the pain of losing a quarter-final, along with the coaches, players, and support team who are hurting this morning,” he said in a statement.
“Gareth and Steve [Holland] prepared the team exceptionally well throughout the tournament. The players were committed to winning the trophy and were very well led by Harry Kane.
“But sport can have fine margins and on the day, against the current world champions, it was not to be.
“This is a very exciting young English squad and, despite the intense disappointment of last night, they should be very proud of their performances in Qatar.
“We are incredibly proud of Gareth, the players, the coaches, and the support team and appreciate all the hard work they put in. “
Gareth Southgate leaves the hotel
James Maddison and Kyle Walker share a hug
Jude Bellingham waves to fans gathered outside England’s hotel
With Manchester United, Harry Maguire feels he is “under a lot more scrutiny” than with England, despite the center-continued back’s success at the World Cup.
The captain of the Red Devils has excelled for Gareth Southgate’s team in Qatar 2022, starting each of their four games thus far and contributing to three clean sheets.
It stands in stark contrast to the defender’s recent struggles at club level and his removal as a first-choice selection by new manager Erik ten Hag during an injury layoff.
While admitting that United were much below par last season, Maguire himself has few concerns and claims that he feels more scrutinized at Old Trafford than with the Three Lions.
“At Manchester United, I’m under a lot more scrutiny,” he added. “Everything I do gets analysed. Every pass I make gets analysed. Every goal we concede is a defender’s fault.
“If you’re playing week in, week out as I did for three years, the last year hasn’t been good enough. Everyone in the team didn’t play well enough, and we came under a lot of scrutiny as players.”
Under Ten Hag however, United have overcome a shaky start – and the saga of Cristiano Ronaldo – to head into the World Cup break looking close to their best for two years.
Maguire is delighted to see the turnaround, even if he is down the pecking order, and is relishing the chance to battle to get back into the Dutchman’s thinking.
“No one came out of the season with plaudits, so it was a general team issue last season, but this one has been much better,” he added.
“This is the first year I’ve really sat on a bench in a few games. I obviously got an injury as well, a thigh injury that kept me out for four weeks, but I’ll fight to get my place back.”
Maguire will be expected to line up when England face off with defending champions France in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
Harry Maguire will not play for Manchester United against Manchester City due to injury, but Erik ten Hag is confident he can rediscover his best form when he returns.
The United captain has endured a torrid season, losing his place at club level and then performing poorly for England despite Gareth Southgate’s backing, with individual errors contributing to Germany’s 2-0 lead in Monday’s 3-3 Nations League draw.
There have been calls for Maguire to be dropped by Southgate, too, but he first faces a tough task to get past Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez back into Ten Hag’s winning United side.
That will not happen in Sunday’s derby, as Ten Hag revealed the centre-back was the only fresh injury concern, set to miss the game while Anthony Martial and Premier League Player of the Month Marcus Rashford return.
However, the United manager was quizzed on what he can do to help Maguire get back to his best.
“First of all, I have to coach him,” Ten Hag said. “I have to back him, but I back him because I believe in him. In the period I was working with him in pre-season, he was good, I would say really good, training and games.
“But then it’s also to do with the good performances of the centre-backs who are playing now.
“I can see qualities. Even after he was not in the team, he trained really well. More importantly, the quality was really there.
“You see his career: he has almost 50 caps for England, already with Leicester and Man United he’s performed really well. What you see is high potential.
“Then it’s about him. The players in the dressing room, the coaches, the manager, we all believe in him. Now it’s about him. That’s what I told him. I am sure he can do it, and he will turn around this. I am really convinced of that.”
Maguire has been the subject of abuse due to his performances, and while Ten Hag suggested criticism was part of the sport, he recognised a lack of belief was the defender’s biggest problem.
“It’s an aspect of football. It’s an aspect of our work,” he said. “We set conditions for that, as a manager, and we also have experts around to help, to coach the players and the team in the right direction.
“I think he is doing quite well, but for every player there is room for improvement. If he believes in his skills, he will be quickly back on the level even more than he did.
“Once again, I’m convinced of that, because I see his capabilities are really high.”
Gareth Southgate is ready to stake his reputation on the continued selection of Harry Maguire, insisting the out-of-favour Manchester United defender remains one of England’s most important players.
Maguire has been dropped to the bench for United’s run of four consecutive Premier League victories, having started their back-to-back defeats to open the campaign last month.
The defender has only started one of United’s past five games in all competitions – a 1-0 Europa League loss to Real Sociedad – leading to criticism of Southgate’s decision to call him up for England’s remaining Nations League fixtures.
But speaking ahead of England’s meeting with Italy at San Siro, which is followed by the visit of Germany on Monday, Southgate insisted Maguire remains central to his plans.
“Whatever reputation I have I’m putting it on there,” Southgate said. “I think you always have to back your judgement, and we feel he is an important player.
“Clearly, it’s not an ideal situation. You want your best players playing regularly so that they’re physically in a good place and mentally in a good place.
“But he is an important player for us. I think it’s important to back our best players.
“I haven’t felt the need to speak to him any differently to the rest of the players. Look, he understands that he’s at a big club, big transfer fee and captain of the club so I think that’s why the spotlight has been on him more.
“But he’s focused on training well every day and getting himself back in the [United] team.”
While Southgate acknowledges a lack of alternatives contributed to his decision to stand by Maguire, he also highlighted the ball-playing ability of the defender and his partner John Stones.
“If we thought there were experienced players ready to step in and play at a level above, there would be a different consideration and in some positions there would be a different level of competition in that way,” Southgate said. “He is our most dominant aerial centre-back.
“Him and John are incredible with the ball really – the amount of pressure they have taken for the team in tournaments we have played because we don’t always have that midfield pivot player who can progress the game.
“It means there is a huge amount of pressure on our centre-backs to use the ball well and those two are as good as any in world football at doing that.”
England have only lost two of their past 26 matches, both against Hungary in June’s Nations League fixtures (W18 D6).
However, the Three Lions are also winless in their past four games (D2 L2), their longest such run since June 2014 (five), and a defeat to Italy in Milan would condemn Southgate’s side to relegation from the Nations League’s top tier.
With Ajax, Manchester United has reached an agreement to acquire Brazilian winger Antony.
United will reportedly pay an initial fee of £80.75 million plus a further £4.25 million in add-ons.
Within the next 48 hours, the 22-year-old is expected to travel to Manchester to get a medical.
Antony would become Manchester United’s joint-second most expensive signing alongside defender Harry Maguire – the £89m paid for Paul Pogba remains the club’s record.
Antony scored 25 goals and provided 22 assists in 82 appearances for Ajax, having joined the Dutch side from Sao Paulo in 2020 and played under current United boss Erik ten Hag.
He made his international debut for Brazil in October 2021 and has two goals in nine appearances.
Antony, who contributed to seven goals in his 11 Champions League appearances for Ajax, would also become the joint-fourth most expensive signing in Premier League history.
Only Pogba’s move to United, Chelsea’s signing of Romelu Lukaku, and Manchester City’s deal for Jack Grealish would be more costly.
United travel to Leicester City in their next Premier League fixture on Thursday, 1 September, but Antony would need to receive a work permit before making an appearance.
The attacker would become United’s fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of his former Ajax team-mate, defender Lisandro Martinez, midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid, full-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, and playmaker Christian Eriksen on a free transfer.
Speculation also remains as to whether Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at the club following concerns about how the 37-year-old’s mood is affecting morale in the camp.
