‘If I’m Harry Maguire’ – Ferdinand urges Man Utd captain to ‘look for a new club right now’

Jason Soutar
Harry Maguire during a warm up

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Harry Maguire should leave the club after falling out of favour under Erik ten Hag.

Maguire was signed for a whopping £80million from Leicester City in 2019 and has often been criticised for his performances for the Red Devils.

The central defender has always been consistent for England but has often been the scapegoat for United.

The criticism Maguire has faced is sure to have taken its toll on him, while he has had to deal with some ridiculous and unnecessary drama, such as a bomb threat being sent to his home in April.

Being captain of one of the biggest clubs in world football is a humungous ask for anyone, and it can probably be said that Maguire has not been the right man for the job.

Despite being the man who possesses the armband at Old Trafford, the 29-year-old has struggled for game time this season after Ten Hag’s appointment.

Ten Hag signed Lisandro Martinez from Ajax in the summer transfer window and the Argentine has formed a solid partnership with 2021 signing Raphael Varane.

The Dutch manager has favoured Victor Lindelof to Maguire and with Martinez absent after winning the World Cup, Luke Shaw has started both Premier League games this week, with Maguire and Lindelof on the bench.

The fact both central defenders are on the bench means they will be fit enough to play, and seeing natural left-back Shaw start alongside Varane will certainly make them ponder their future at the club.

Former United centre-back Ferdinand was surprised to see Shaw start ahead of Lindelof and Maguire against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and Wolves on Saturday and reckons the latter should be pursuing a move elsewhere.

“It raised eyebrows when you saw Lindelof and Maguire on the bench – it shows what Ten Hag thinks of those two guys,” he told BT Sport.

“If I’m Harry Maguire, I’m looking for a new club right now. He’s faultless for England. At Man United, it hasn’t worked out for him.

“This new manager is showing him he’s not going to be one of the top two centre-backs. I’d be telling my agent to go and find me a new club where I can play regularly and enjoy my football.”

Maguire was linked with Chelsea last summer and could be a decent signing for them given the fact they play with three central defenders.

This is the system he operates in for England, for whom he has always performed well, even at this winter’s World Cup despite his lack of minutes at club level.

Chelsea are in the market for a new centre-back but have also been linked with RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, so a move to sign Maguire might no longer be an option.

While Ferdinand reckons Maguire should seek a move elsewhere, there is no clear indication that he would have a move lined up and it is anyone’s guess how much United would want for him.

Having paid £80m to sign him from Leicester, you could see the Red Devils asking for a fair whack, but given his lack of playing time, they may be happy to get him off the wage bill and offer him a much-needed fresh start.

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