Not Bruno – Next Man Utd captain named as Ten Hag brutally tells Harry Maguire he’s no longer right to lead team

Maguire took over as Manchester United captain in January 2020, following the decision of previous manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, given the center-back’s poor performances in previous years, it was always going to be a contentious decision among the club’s followers. Maguire has made some poor decisions, and some Manchester United fans believe he is unable to lead their squad as a result.

And under Ten Hag, things have only gotten worse for Maguire. Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have emerged as Ten Hag’s first-choice defensive partnership, with the Englishman no longer even a regular starter. And, despite being regarded as a left-back, Maguire has dropped below Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw in the pecking order.

Because of these variables, Maguire only played a full 90 minutes in all competitions 16 times last season. The strain is mounting on Maguire, who cannot continue to be captain if he is absent from the team.

According to The Sun, Ten Hag will meet with the 30-year-old next week to ‘formally’ inform him that he is no longer suitable for the captaincy.

While the Dutch tactician has yet to make a final decision on his replacement, offensive midfielder Bruno Fernandes is a strong contender.

The Portugal international has earned the respect of both Ten Hag and his teammates. They regard him as a natural leader on the field, which is why he has been awarded the armband on the majority of instances when Maguire has been benched.

Maguire will not only lose his captaincy but he may also be forced to find a new club this summer. Man United need to sell certain players to fund their chase of a new striker and goalkeeper, and Maguire is one of the players who might be sold.

Harry Maguire’s future is uncertain.
Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United have all expressed interest in him. According to recent rumors, Maguire does not want to leave Old Trafford because he has been handed a pay increase as a result of Man Utd’s qualification for next season’s Champions League. The defender is aware that none of his possible suitors can come close to matching his present wage.

Another issue to consider is the amount of loss Manchester United is willing to accept when selling Maguire. They paid Leicester a record £80 million for him in 2019, making him the world’s most expensive defender.

However, given Maguire’s problems in a Manchester United shirt, as well as his age, the club would be lucky to recover even half of that money back.

Maguire must decide whether money or playing time is more important to him. If he stays at Manchester United and continues to wait on the bench, he risks losing out on a spot in England’s Euro 2016 team. But, certainly, some significant concessions will be required if he is to leave Manchester United this summer.