Manchester United player Harry Maguire has confirmed that he has been stripped of the captaincy after discussions with manager Erik ten Hag. Maguire, who has recently been linked with a potential move to West Ham, expressed his "extreme disappointment" in a statement posted on Twitter. He thanked the Manchester United fans for their support during his captaincy and stated that he will continue to give his all for the team. Maguire acknowledged the privilege of leading Manchester United and expressed gratitude to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for initially entrusting him with the role. He wished the new captain success and pledged his full support.
After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.
So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the… pic.twitter.com/TAOS0eisF1
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) July 16, 2023
Maguire was appointed captain by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer immediately upon his arrival from Leicester in 2019 and initially made a positive impact at Old Trafford. However, despite his success with the England national team, he has struggled to find consistent form at the club level. Ten Hag, the current Manchester United manager, has favored Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane in central defense, which has contributed to Maguire's loss of the captaincy.
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While there have been indications that Maguire intends to stay and fight for his future at Manchester United, this recent development may bring him closer to a potential departure. Maguire is among several United players who are free to leave the club this summer as Ten Hag looks to raise funds for new signings. Mason Mount has already arrived from Chelsea, and a deal for Andre Onana from Inter Milan is nearing completion. Manchester United is also targeting a new No. 9 striker, but player exits will be necessary to balance the club's books. Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund is reported to be the top target, and the club is also considering French international Randal Kolo Muani.