Harry Maguire is enduring a difficult period with Manchester United ahead of the World Cup – and his form won’t come as a surprise to Roy Keane.
Maguire has started just three Premier League matches for United this season, with injuries keeping him out of the side before Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane formed a solid partnership. The 29-year-old has been named in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the World Cup, but his form remains patchy.
Reports on Friday suggested that Erik ten Hag would be willing to listen to offers for Maguire, who cost £80million from Leicester in 2019. Maguire is currently in the middle of a six-year contract, with a salary of £190,000 per week, and Ten Hag is keen to build his side around different players.
The centre-back has had previous dips during his United career but the current one is the biggest of his time at Old Trafford. Former United midfielder Keane has spoken about Maguire’s up-and-down time at the club previously, highlighting his inconsistent form.
"You have to play,” he said after England's 1-0 Nations League defeat to Denmark, in which Maguire was sent off, in October 2020. "The only downside for Maguire, at the moment, for me, he's going back to a Man Utd team that's not full of confidence. Certainly, the back four is not in great form.
"I've been in situations before, I've been in Harry's situation, I've been in dressing rooms at Man United's. But I was in dressing rooms with brilliant characters and brilliant leaders. So even if had done something silly or was having a hard time, on or off the pitch, I was going back into - [what] I felt [was] the best dressing room in the world.
"Lads who would carry you through difficult spells. He's not going to get that. He's going back to Man United, he's playing in the back four – I wouldn't be anywhere near these lads. Because I don't see them as leaders."
Maguire is still United’s captain, but Bruno Fernandes has been leading the team, while David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo remain influential. Ten Hag was under pressure to change the club’s captain over the summer, but opted to stick with Maguire.
Maguire is aware of the noise around him, but insists he pays little attention to the criticism. “I try my best to ignore what goes on in the outside world,” he told The Times.
“It must be a small percentage of people who actually sit and watch 90, 95 minutes of a game without being on their phone or doing something else as well. I think most of the game will be watched on highlights or on social media, which is a shame for the game, really.”
