Harry Maguire certainly wasn’t shy about telling people what he thought.
On Sunday afternoon, when most of us were taking in the Wimbledon final, Maguire took to Twitter to issue a lengthy statement confirming that Erik ten Hag has removed him as Manchester United captain, a decision he is none too happy about.
In reality, it is a call that has been a long time coming, with Maguire falling down the pecking order at United and struggling to keep his England place. But what comes next for a club in need of a new manager and a player in need of a new challenge?
We asked our Mirror football keep what they think.
Mike Walters
It is one of English football’s greatest anomalies – how can Harry Maguire perform so well for England, yet with such mediocrity for Manchester United?
To captain a major international institution like United, you have to be in the team every week, so Maguire may have few complaints about being stripped of the armband.
No great captains of industry earn their stripes in the waiting room when leadership is forged on the shop floor.
If I were in Maguire’s shoes, I’d clear off to a club where he’d be more valued – but he’ll have to take a pay cut because few, if any, clubs interested in signing him can match his £190,000 a week salary.
I’ve always liked Maguire as a player, but too many accidents happen around him – even if they’re not his fault, like the double own goal accident against Sevilla last season. He has become the Frank Spencer of United’s defence.
A fresh start would make sense for all involved… somewhere like West Ham or Wolves?
As for his replacement as United’s designated captain, don’t give it to Bruno Fernandes. Great player but he disappeared like Shergar when the chips were down in the seven goal humiliation at Anfield. Personally, I wouldn’t follow him into the chip shop, let alone the trenches.
Anyone for Luke Shaw?
Tom Blow
Harry Maguire’s situation at Manchester United is unique, so it is difficult to judge Erik ten Hag’s decision.
The England international has fallen behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw in the pecking order… and you can’t be captain if you don’t play.
A captain is usually shown the door when time is up, but it is difficult for United to do so because Maguire still has two years left on his contract.
He is believed to be earning £190,000-a-week, wages few clubs in the Premier League can match. United will probably have to pay some of his wages upfront if they want him to leave Old Trafford this summer.
Despite all the talk of a transfer, there is every chance Maguire will stay at United as a squad player and see out the rest of his contract.
And if he does, he can’t keep the captaincy. You can almost get away with your skipper sitting on the bench for a year, but not for three years.
I would say that Ten Hag has made a brave, but necessary, decision.
SAY YOUR SAY! Who will be Manchester United’s next captain? Comment below
Nathan Ridley
Ruthless, yes, right, also yes.
Harry Maguire was a committed captain for Manchester United, with his work off the pitch during the Covid-19 pandemic testament to his good character, but when Ole Gunnar Solskjær was sacked from his role last November, it was clear that he was have to follow suit. .
Maguire has apparently not had a hand in the dressing room since the summer of 2021, and it is the man who most often stepped up in his place to succeed him.
Proven contenders for the armband are still few and far between at Old Trafford, but Bruno Fernandes clearly has Erik ten Hag’s faith, despite his occasional hideous antics – *cough* 7-0 at Anfield. Maybe it will even help him iron out that kind of behavior to always get the role on a permanent basis.
As for Maguire, I would advise him to walk away from Old Trafford before it’s too late. The European Championship is upon us, and by the time England’s next major tournament arrives, a host of other options for central defense could have emerged.
Gareth Southgate – who could be gone this time next year – will still have faith in him as long as he is playing ordinary football in the Premier League or at a good level abroad, and he is more than capable of doing that for a Europe League team. Get the system right and Maguire will thrive.
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Simon Bird
Was Erik Ten Hag right to strip Harry Maguire of the Manchester United captaincy? Yes?
Is Maguire right to be “extremely disappointed”? Damn yes.
The England defender is a class act who has suffered in silence by being used so little last season by Ten Hag. He made just eight Premier League starts.
Ten Hag, last season, and now in pre-season, has made it clear that Maguire is not for him. Fair enough, he is the boss and has new ideas to take the club forward. Taking away the captaincy is a powerful way to send Maguire a message. And the harsh message is: Clean up. Find a new club.
But Maguire knows he has plenty to give as a top class footballer. A top six club will surely sign him, although a £50m fee and £190,000-a-week wages may put some off and United may end up compensating Maguire as part of his exit.
Leave Old Trafford, he must. He could be a big part of England’s European Championship campaign next summer and still challenge for honors elsewhere.
Fraser Watson
It was a decision that Erik ten Hag simply had to take into consideration for both the club and the player.
Harry Maguire’s failure to hold down a regular place in the starting XI last season, amid his obvious struggles for form, made the idea of him continuing as Manchester United captain unthinkable. The club has allowed itself to drift through a period of mediocrity in recent years and Ten Hag, who has made reckless calls, with the captaincy decision following the release of David de Gea, has been two steps in the right direction.
Maguire must now, if he chooses to stay, focus on fighting hard to win his place back. Should that not come to fruition, then for his own career he must scrap any ideas of making big money to do little, and look for a move elsewhere in the Premier League.
Bruno Fernandes is now the obvious choice to take over. Yes, there are behavioral flaws, but then so did Roy Keane. And United must be led by a figure of his quality and volatility if they are to challenge for elite trophies again.
Andy Dunn
When Erik ten Hag sat down for a chat with Harry Maguire the other day, he didn’t just tell the England defender he was no longer club captain, he told him he had to go.
Because the bottom line is that having the armband taken away – especially in an institution like Manchester United – is borderline humiliation.
Harry Maguire deserves better than that and needs to get out of Old Trafford.
However, there is a fundamental problem. If Ten Hag thinks Maguire is nowhere near good enough for a Champions League team, why should the manager of any other Champions League team think differently?
Maguire’s options may be limited and he may have to brave a move to a club that cannot offer immediate Champions League football.
But it has to be better than staying at a club that doesn’t seem to offer ANY football.
One way or another – and it goes without saying, for the sake of his fine English career – Maguire has to leave Old Trafford.
SAY YOUR SAY! Who will be Manchester United’s next captain? Comment below
John Cross
Erik ten Hag had no other option but to strip Harry Maguire of the captaincy.
The Manchester United manager must select a player to play each week. Not one who isn’t a regular. It was turning Maguire into a sort of mascot who would go up and collect trophies or be a club spokesman. He’s better than that.
I really feel sorry for Maguire, who even in his statement has acted with dignity and said he was disappointed, but lesser characters would not have stopped there.
Let’s not forget – this is huge for him. This was his dream.
Maguire now has to move on for the sake of his career – especially with England and the European Championships around the corner. If he doesn’t play for his club, he can’t be selected for England and unless he’s careful, Levi Colwill will take his place.
The problem United have is that there is no obvious next captain. It shouldn’t be Bruno Fernandes – he’s not a great leader on the pitch. Lisandro Martinez would be my choice if he spoke better English. And the fact that United don’t have an obvious replacement is a concern in itself.
Mark Jones
The role of captain is so often overplayed in football, but it is obviously important enough for Erik ten Hag to do what he has done. Although of course there is an ulterior motive.
Ten Hag obviously want to get rid of Harry Maguire and Manchester United are looking to raise money to help with FFP issues and summer transfers. The burden on the salary budget would also be eased.
A permanent sale may be what many consider to be best for all parties, but who asks Maguire?
It is not up to him to help United solve the financial problems plaguing their summer, with a takeover still up in the air and you don’t walk away from a club as big as them. For Maguire’s career, the only way is down.
So what about a carefully selected loan? One where Maguire plays every week in his best position, on the left of a three-man back line, and gets enough football to stay in the England conversation for the Euros. So he could return to Old Trafford for the final year of his contract next summer, and who knows how things might turn out then?
As for his replacement? It will probably be Bruno Fernandes, but there is also a Marcus Rashford option here. Throw in the armband with his new deal and keep him at his club for life.