Harry Maguire has accepted a public apology from a Ghanaian politician who ruthlessly mocked the Manchester United defender in parliament.
Last December, MP Isaac Adongo made headlines with a cruel jibe at the England centre-back's high-profile decline in form as a comparison with his criticism of Ghana vice-president - and economist and former banker - Mahamudu Bawumia's performance on the economy.
"If you are a fan of football, and I was happy to see the jubilation when Ghana won, but there was a player in the United Kingdom, in England called Maguire who was playing for Manchester United," Mr Adongo said 11 months ago.
"Harry Maguire, he's a defender. He was tackling everybody and throwing his body everywhere. He was seen as the best defender in the world, Manchester United were at the bottom.
"He became the biggest threat at the centre of the Manchester United defence, tackling Manchester players and giving assists to opponents. Mr Speaker, when you see the opponents go to score, Maguire will score for them."
However, now almost a year later Mr Adongo has finally apologised to Maguire during a parliamentary debate on the 2024 budget in Ghana.
"You remember last year I was very quick to compare my big brother Doctor Mahamudu Bawumia to Harry Maguire," he said on Wednesday.
MP Issac Adongo apology accepted . See you at Old Trafford soon 🤝😊
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) November 22, 2023
"Mr Speaker, I now apologise Harry Maguire. Mr Chairman, you got very angry when I used your defender as an example.
"Today Maguire has turned the corner, he's a transformational footballer. Harry Maguire is now scoring goals for Manchester United.
"Mr Speaker, Harry Maguire is now a key player for Manchester United. As for our Maguire, he is now roaming at the high heavens, with a cup in hand.
"As for our Maguire, the economic Maguire, he was able to get pensioners to leave their homes and come and parade in the streets."
Maguire has since accepted Mr Adongo's apology, writing on Twitter: "MP Issac [sic] Adongo apology accepted. See you at Old Trafford soon."
