Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has spent a second night behind bars ahead of an appearance in a Greek court today.
The 27-year-old is part of a group of three men arrested over an alleged altercation with police on the island of Mykonos.
Maguire, the world’s most expensive defender following his £80m move last summer, could have been captaining United in the Europa League final on Friday but instead was in Greece after United’s elimination last weekend.
The Hellenic Police allege one of their officers was hit as he tried to break up a disturbance on Mykonos and that the three men later resisted arrest by “pushing and beating three officers”.
Maguire denies the allegations and his lawyer has said he is confident he will be released without charges.
A statement from the Hellenic Police’s South Aegean region press office said: “Three foreigners, aged 27, 28 and 29, were arrested on Friday in Mykonos by police officers of the Mykonos police department.
“Patrolling police officers in the area of Mykonos intervened and normalised a dispute between citizens, however, three foreigners involved in the incident turned against them, insulting and hitting a police officer with fists.
“The three foreigners were taken to the Mykonos Police Station, where upon their arrival they strongly resisted, pushing and beating three police officers.
“One of the detainees then tried to offer money so that the trial against them would not be completed. The arrested (men) were taken to the Syros Prosecutor’s Office.”
Maguire and the two other detainees were transported to Syros, where they will face charges by a public prosecutor, a police official said.
United released a statement on Friday which read: “The club are aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night.
“Contact has been made with Harry, and he is fully co-operating with the Greek authorities. At this time we will be making no further comment.”
Constantine Darivas, the lawyer acting on behalf of Maguire, told local media that the player denies any allegations.
“The process is ongoing. Maguire is in great condition,” Darivas said last night. “We'll be able to say more tomorrow morning.
“He denies the allegations and I am fully convinced that tomorrow he will be released without any charges.”
In his first season at Old Trafford, the England international was an ever-present in the Premier League and scored one goal.
He captained the side in last Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals.
The player was one of the Premier League captains who drew praise for his involvement in the #PlayersTogether initiative, which helped raise funds for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
