Erik ten Hag tells Harry Maguire he doesn’t want defender to leave Manchester United despite captaincy decision

Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has reportedly expressed his desire for Harry Maguire to stay at the club. This comes after Maguire was recently stripped of the captaincy by ten Hag, raising doubts about his future at Old Trafford.

Maguire, who only made eight Premier League starts last season, has been overshadowed by other players in the United first team. Despite this, he remains calm about his situation and has been linked with potential moves to West Ham, Newcastle, and Chelsea.

TalkSPORT host Sam Matterface mentioned that Maguire is relaxed about the situation and is willing to work hard for the team. However, he believes that Manchester United should publicly clarify their stance on Maguire’s availability to put an end to the speculation surrounding his future.

It is understood that ten Hag has privately assured Maguire that he wants him to stay at the club but simply wants to choose his own captain. However, without a public statement from the manager, the decision to strip Maguire of the captaincy can be misinterpreted.

Maguire is eager to play and if Manchester United indicate that they are open to his departure, there will likely be interest from other clubs. Chelsea, under the management of Mauricio Pochettino, are in need of a new center-back, and both Newcastle and West Ham have also shown interest.

For now, Maguire is determined to fight for his place at Manchester United. However, if it becomes clear that he won’t be given opportunities to play, he will seek clarity to make a decision. With the Euros approaching, Maguire, who has been a key figure in England’s defense for six years, is not willing to give up his position without a fight.

Ultimately, Maguire needs his manager to publicly express his confidence in him and state that he is an essential part of the squad. This is what ten Hag has been conveying to Maguire privately.
Erik ten Hag, manager of Dutch football powerhouse Ajax has revealed he does not want star defender Harry Maguire, despite his revoked Manchester United captaincy, to leave the Premier League giants.

On Tuesday, United announced that they had stripped the England international of his captaincy, following his arrest in Greece during a pre-season trip.

Ajax boss ten Hag – a vocal admirer of Maguire – has made it clear he does not want the centre-back to leave Old Trafford. Speaking in a press conference on Wednesday, he said: “Harry should stay in Manchester right now. That’s really my opinion.

“He is a fantastic player and a great leader, so I think it’s best for him and Manchester United if he stays. It’s in the best interests of all parties.”

This is in stark contrast to the view of many United fans and pundits, who believe the former Leicester City defender should be sold in the upcoming transfer window for a variety of reasons.

Maguire was recently handed a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in Greek court after being charged with resisting arrest and attempted bribery.

His club have now taken the matter in their own hands, with manager Olé Gunnar Solskjær citing disciplinary reasons for the captaincy removal.

Regardless, ten Hag remains positive about Maguire’s future at United, highlighting his leadership qualities as a huge asset to the team. He concluded: “Harry has the right spirit to be a successful captain for Manchester United and I hope he will continue to lead the team for many more years to come.”