Is Harry Maguire's Man Utd career over?

FT Desk

27 Sept 2022 17:37 BST
3 min read

Harry Maguire has been dropped by Manchester United despite being club captain, and now Jamie Carragher has weighed in on the England centre-back's situation.

Article continues under the video

Ten Hag confirmed Maguire as Man Utd captain on succeeding Ralf Rangnick in the Old Trafford hot seat this summer, but he paired Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez at centre-back as the Red Devils went on a four-match unbeaten run before the international break.

England manager Gareth Southgate has kept faith with the man who cost United a record £80 million (€89.4m) when he joined from Leicester in 2019, and Maguire started England's most recent outing - a 3-3 draw with Germany - on the left of his back three.

Just Harry Maguire things 😬pic.twitter.com/wXhc3AcI1Z
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 9, 2022

Twitter exploded with stats defending Maguire after the game - things like four ball recoveries and 10 duels won - but he was directly responsible for two of Germany's three goals and former Liverpool captain Carragher was scathing in his criticism.

Carragher asking questions

"My question to Maguire is this: "Do you still have that same fury in you?" he asked in his column for the Telegraph. "Too often, it looks as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders, like he is a startled bunny more than the authoritative centre-back he was.

"I think it's too late at club level. I wrote last year he was fighting for his Manchester United career. He needs this to be his final season at Old Trafford and start afresh. Now it is England's problem. When I watched Maguire in the last two games, I felt sorry for him. But that is not a good look for any sports person.

"Sympathy will not get him back where he was two years ago."

Maguire has now gone 10 games without a win in all competitions he has played in with Man Utd and England, but he has defended himself in recent days.

"I went into the Euros after an eight-week injury, and did not play one game, and got into the team of the tournament," he said.