Harry Maguire No Longer Man Utds Captain, Varane or Martinez Preferred By Coach

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been stripped of the captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag. The 30-year-old, who has been linked with a move to West Ham, made eight starts in the Premier League last season.

Ten Hag is expected to announce a new captain in due course, but the identity of the new skipper is not yet known.

Maguire said he was “extremely disappointed” to be stripped of the captaincy, but he pledged to continue to give his all for the club.

“I’ve done everything I possibly could to help United be successful,” he said. “I will always be grateful to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for first giving me the responsibility and I wish whoever now takes it on every success.”

Maguire was appointed captain by Solskjaer in January 2020, but he has faced criticism for his performances in recent seasons. He was dropped from the starting lineup for several games last season, and he was even booed by some United fans.

Ten Hag’s decision to strip Maguire of the captaincy is a clear sign that the Dutchman wants to start afresh at Old Trafford. The new manager will be hoping that Maguire can regain his form and help United challenge for trophies in the coming season.

Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez preferred over Maguire

Maguire was not a regular starter for United last season, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez preferred at the heart of the defence. Varane, who joined United from Real Madrid in 2021, has been praised for his calmness and composure on the ball. Martinez, who joined United from Ajax in 2022, is a versatile defender who can play in both centre-back and left-back positions.

Maguire’s future at United is uncertain, but he will be hoping to win back his place in the starting lineup and reclaim the captaincy under Ten Hag.