Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has confirmed that he has been stripped of the captaincy, raising doubts about his future at the club. In a social media post, Maguire expressed his “extreme disappointment” at the decision, which was revealed exclusively by SunSport a week earlier. He thanked the Manchester United fans for their support during his captaincy tenure, which he considered a privilege and one of the proudest moments of his career.
Maguire’s statement indicated that manager Erik ten Hag had “outlined his reasons” for the change in captaincy. Despite the setback, Maguire pledged “I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt”.
“So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the Manchester United fans for all their brilliant support whilst I’ve been wearing the armband.”
“Since the day I took on the role, three and half years ago, it’s been a huge privilege to lead Manchester United and one of the proudest moments of my career to date. It’s one of the greatest honours in club football. I’ve done everything I possibly could to help United be successful – on and off the field,” he continued.
“I will always be grateful to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for first giving me the responsibility and I wish whoever now takes it on every success and they will have my full support,” the England defender added.
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It remains to be seen if he will remain at Manchester United, with reports suggesting interest from West Ham United, who are keen on a loan deal. However, Manchester United is said to only consider a permanent sale with a price tag of £50 million.
Last season, Maguire’s playing time was limited under manager Erik ten Hag, as he fell down the pecking order. With the emergence of other preferred options in defense, Maguire faced increased competition for a starting position. The arrival of Raphael Varane further raised questions about Maguire’s future prospects at the club.
With the captaincy change and the potential arrival of another center-back, Maguire may find opportunities limited this season. However, his strong performances and leadership qualities could still attract suitors, and his future at Manchester United remains uncertain.
