Manchester United fans are calling for Erik ten Hag to reinstate Harry Maguire as captain after a behind-the-scenes video highlighted his leadership qualities.
Maguire, who is currently recovering from a calf injury that ruled him out of Euro 2024, is among the few senior players training at United’s Carrington complex. The 31-year-old defender was omitted from Gareth Southgate’s squad due to his injury and has been diligently working to regain full fitness for the upcoming 2024/25 season.
Although Maguire did not travel with the United squad to Trondheim for their match against Rosenborg, he remained at Carrington to train alongside some of the club’s younger players. In a MUTV clip, Maguire greets and shakes hands with every player in the gym on training bikes, showcasing his leadership and camaraderie.
The video quickly went viral on Twitter, drawing praise from many United fans and prompting some to suggest he should replace Bruno Fernandes as captain. Comments included, “Acting like a leader,” and “That’s my captain there.” Another fan noted, “You always hear from many players in and around the squad how Maguire makes them feel welcome and at home right away. This is a nice example of this in training this week greeting all the young lads. A class act and great leader.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made Maguire, who joined United in a record £80 million transfer from Leicester City in 2019, captain in January 2020. However, Erik ten Hag stripped him of the captaincy in July 2023, appointing Bruno Fernandes instead. Despite this, the video indicates that Maguire still commands significant respect among his teammates.
Solskjaer had previously expressed his admiration for Maguire’s leadership. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Solskjaer said, “I loved Harry Maguire as a captain, he was the leader in that group for me when I was at the club. The way that Harry Maguire has handled himself with everything happening to him at Manchester United is top class and just shows the character he’s got, that I want in players.”
However, it seems unlikely that Ten Hag will reverse his decision, especially since Maguire is not a guaranteed starter. United have spent £52 million on Leny Yoro, who could partner Lisandro Martinez in defense, and there are rumors of Matthijs de Ligt potentially joining the club this summer.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his starting position, the recent video has reignited discussions about Maguire’s leadership qualities and his potential role within the team moving forward.
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