Harry Maguire is no longer the Manchester United captain as the England player has reportedly been stripped of his captaincy.
The England defender announced that he will no longer be wearing the Red Devils armband on Sunday, July 16.
This development further deepens the uncertainty surrounding Maguire’s future at Old Trafford.
Throughout last season, he not only lost his position in the first team but also made a mere eight starts in the Premier League.
Since his £80 million ($104 million) transfer from Leicester in 2019, Maguire has consistently been a starting player for United.
In January 2020, he was appointed captain by former United manager Solskjaer.
He was appointed as captain when Erik Ten Hag took over the saddle from Solskjaer at Old Trafford last summer.
However, his playing time has been noticeably reduced as Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have been favored in the center-back position by the Dutch boss.
Maguire only made 16 appearances in the Premier League last season, with only eight of those being starts.
Harry Maguire expressed his disappointment
Harry Maguire expressed his displeasure after being stripped of his captaincy at Manchester United by manager Erik ten Hag.
In a social media statement announcing his resignation as captain, Maguire emphasized that he had made every effort, both on and off the field, to contribute to United’s success.
Maguire said he had a discussion with Ten Hag and he broke the news to him.
He expressed his disappointment in losing the role and clarified that he did not voluntarily step down.
Maguire said: “He informed me today that he will be changing the captain.
“He explained his reasons to me, and although I am personally very disappointed, I will still give my best every time I wear the shirt.”
Maguire extended his heartfelt appreciation to Manchester United fans for their love and support despite losing his captaincy.
He noted: “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Manchester United fans for their incredible support throughout my time as the team’s captain.”
“Since the day I assumed the role three and a half years ago, it has been an immense privilege to lead Manchester United.”
“It stands as one of the proudest moments of my career thus far. It is considered one of the highest honors in club football.”
Furthermore, Harry Maguire expressed his good wishes to his successor as Manchester United captain, acknowledging that he was unexpectedly replaced by Erik ten Hag.
Meanwhile, there have been indications that Bruno Fernandez is likely to be the next Manchester United captain.
Maguire simply said to the man who will replace him: “I wish the new person every success, and they will have my complete support.”
Since his signing from Leicester for a whopping £80 million in 2019, Maguire has impressively accumulated over 170 appearances for United.
What Next for Harry Maguire
According to a report by ESPN on May 31, it has been stated that Manchester United are open to considering offers for Maguire during the upcoming summer transfer window.
It is expected that West Ham, who inquired about his availability earlier this year in January, will show interest in signing him.
It is believed that United are seeking to recover approximately £35 million for Maguire. However, both the fee and his £200,000-a-week wages are proving to be obstacles for potential suitors.
