Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire are embroiled in a power struggle over the Manchester United captaincy.
Maguire is reluctant to relinquish the armband for the rest of the season, as Ralf Rangnick looks to take the pressure off him as he wrestles with his own loss of form, for fear of losing the captaincy on a permanent basis.
Interim boss Rangnick has called on Ronaldo to mentor the young players within the squad, which is understood to have led to further friction with Maguire.
United skipper Maguire is said to feel increasingly undermined by the 37-year-old superstar’s huge influence within the dressing-room, particularly with the younger players.
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Ronaldo has positioned himself as the one setting the example for younger players and the need for one figure – himself – to get everyone pulling in the same direction.
Maguire is said to feel marginalised in terms of his authority within the United dressing-room, leading to him thinking some of the players are losing respect for him.
There is now a growing belief within the Old Trafford dressing-room that it is inevitable Ronaldo will replace Maguire – who has been struggling for form – as captain.
Rangnick’s decision to ask Ronaldo to guide United’s younger players, including Jadon Sancho, Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford, has been seen as a direct challenge to Maguire’s status as skipper.
Some of United’s younger players are said to be conflicted by the situation, feeling they should remain loyal to Maguire, as captain, despite Ronaldo’s huge presence and influence within the dressing-room.
Although Ronaldo has steadfastly backed Maguire as captain and urged United’s players to get behind him, sources claim that vocal support is said to have lessened in recent weeks.
A United source said: “Originally, Ronaldo was asking players to back Harry. But the problem is the manager now wants Ronaldo to mentor all these younger players.
“That’s left Harry in no man’s land, as he’s the captain and having to say and follow whatever Ronaldo says, to keep everything sweet.”
Maguire, signed from Leicester for £80million in 2019, was handed the United captain’s armband two years ago by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Although questions have been raised about Maguire’s captaincy, United and England striker Rashford hit back at suggestions of a dressing-room divide.
Responding to claims he and Maguire were unhappy with Ronaldo wanting greater power within the United dressing-room, Rashford took to Twitter.
Rashford wrote: “Are we just making it up as we go along now then? Please stop looking for divides.”
