Ten Hag to strip Maguire of Manchester United captaincy roles

Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.

FOOTBALL Ten Hag to strip Maguire of Manchester United captaincy roles

Kiplagat Sang • 17:29 - 09.07.2023

The manager is said to have made the decision, whether the defender will remain at the club or not.

Harry Maguire is set to be stripped of his captaincy duties at Manchester United by manager Erik ten Hag.

According to reports, the United manager is expected to demote the England international this week before the club begins its pre-season.

The former Leicester City center-back only started eight Premier League games last season, as he has fallen down the pecking order. 

Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, and sometimes Luke Shaw who was occasionally deployed as a center back were all preferred ahead of Maguire.

Although he has been reduced to a peripheral role at the club, he remains a key player for England under Gareth Southgate. And for him to continue enjoying regular starts with the national side, he must ensure he features regularly in club football.

Meanwhile, West Ham and Newcastle United have been linked with Maguire, but United’s asking price of £50 million and the player’s astronomical wages are putting off interested suitors.

It is reported that Ten Hag has already selected his new skipper, with Bruno Fernandes highly tipped to be appointed the new captain.

Since Ashley Young left Manchester United in 2020, Maguire has been the captain, although he has recently struggled with poor form, but Ten Hag was reluctant to take the armband from the defender. 

Ten Hag will consult with his squad on the appointment over the next few days, while an official announcement on the matter could be made as early as this coming week. 

It will not be a surprising move if Fernandes is picked because, in Maguire’s absence, he frequently wore the armband in 2022–2023.

The Portuguese international recorded 14 goals and 15 assists across all competitions.