Erik ten Hag has had no interest in following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's lead - after it was claimed that the former Manchester United boss only played Harry Maguire "because they had paid so much money for him".
The centre-half moved from Leicester to Old Trafford in the summer of 2019 for a huge sum that made him the world's most expensive defender. Maguire had risen impressively with the Foxes and had Manchester City interested, before opting for those in red.
Maguire's time with the Red Devils has been marred by inconsistencies and defensive errors however, which has now seen him snubbed as he tumbles down the pecking order under Ten Hag. Solskjaer, though stuck, with the Englishman, despite calls to drop him.
The Norwegian continued to play Maguire at the heart of defence, shunning other options in the process before Rojo sought answers. Solskjaer informed him that, to justify the huge outlay, he had to persevere with him, meaning others were continually overlooked.
Rojo told TYC Sports : "In 2019 I was very good in England. I was playing in the Europa League but I was very angry with the coach because he was putting Maguire in the team instead of me. Thank God they have taken him out now and Licha [Lisandro] Martinez is playing.
"One day I went to Solskjaer's office to tell him to let me leave for another club or put me in the starting line-up. I said it was wrong that I wasn't playing. But he told me that Maguire had to play regardless because they had paid so much money for him. He was making huge mistakes every week already and I told Solskjaer: 'Son of a b****, let me play because this guy is making huge mistakes every week'."
Maguire played all 38 league games in his first season under Solskjaer before playing 34 the year after. However this season he's been limited to just seven starts, the majority being against bottom-half teams. He was part of the backline that conceded four against Brentford earlier this season and has struggled to find a way back since.
Lisandro Martinez came in and dislodged Maguire early in the campaign, forming a strong partnership with Raphael Varane that Ten Hag has stuck to. He's had little concern for the costly asset that's been sat on the bench and could yet sanction his departure this summer.
Maguire said on being dropped earlier this season: "Obviously, the manager [Erik ten Hag] decided to leave me out for a game, and the team have been winning since. I am working hard on the training pitch to make sure I am ready for when my opportunity comes. That is all what I can do to try and help the team."
