Ronaldo, Maguire Man Utd careers over after Southampton snub
FT Desk
- 27 Aug 2022 12:13 BST
- 3 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire have been benched for the second consecutive game. It is time for both of them to leave Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag gave both significant minutes to open the current Premier League campaign, but losses to Brighton and Brentford followed - the latter an abject 4-0 defeat.
Ten Hag made a statement dropping them against Liverpool on Monday, citing tactical reasons as to why. The manager was vindicated with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez looking imperious at the back, while Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho got the goals in a 2-1 win.
That might have been dismissed as a one-off for a must-win game against United's most bitter rivals, but for Ten Hag to opt for the same starting line-up against Southampton - a team the Red Devils remain overwhelming favourites against - speaks volumes.
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"I think that doesn't mean when you are captain you are established to play always," Ten Hag said of Maguire before the meeting at St Mary's. "Especially when you also have Varane in your squad. We have options…"
United may have option, but Maguire and Ronaldo in particular are running out of them.
Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Marseille and even Rangers are the most recent clubs to have been linked with Ronaldo, with the Portuguese desperate to extend his record 140 goals in the Champions League.
Ronaldo to Napoli?
His agent Jorge Mendes is still actively pursuing possibilities - with Napoli and a swap deal with Victor Osimhen another - but most potential suitors have baulked at the overall financial package for a 37-year-old who could disrupt the dressing room.
Casemiro's recent €80m arrival from Real Madrid reportedly calmed Ronaldo down, but make no mistake - he is not hanging around to sit on the bench against Southampton.
Maguire's situation might be more nuanced, the player himself previously talking positively about his role as captain irrespective of game time.
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"To be captain of this club is a huge honour," he said. "I know how much media speculation it brings with it and I'm used to it now, I'm big enough to take what comes with it. I'm looking forward to leading the team again this season."
But he may not lead them out again any time soon if Varane and Martinez continue to firm up their central defensive partnership. United also paid Leicester €80m for Maguire in 2019, but their c hances of recouping that would be slim.
Maguire might also need to force a move if the situation continues, given he has an England World Cup squad to make in November.
Both could come on against Southampton, but it looks to be the beginning of the end either way.
