Manchester United captain Harry Maguire reveals cordial relations with City defender John Stones

Speaking in an interview (h/t Manchester Evening News) this weekend, Manchester United captain Harry Maguire revealed that he and City centre-back John Stones remain good friends off the field.

The two defenders are childhood friends, having grown up in the same locality and playing against each other at youth level in South Yorkshire. And Maguire spoke more about this friendship that has stood the test of time.

“We always speak, away from football. He’s a good friend, like I said I grew up with him, I grew up playing against him when he was at Barnsley.”

Stones and Maguire climbed the ladder to worldwide fame as they lead the defence for their respective teams in Manchester. Stones moved to City from Everton while Maguire left Leicester City to join the Red Devils.

Stones and Maguire climbed the ladder to worldwide fame as they lead the defence for their respective teams in Manchester. Stones transferred to City from Everton while Maguire left Leicester City to join the Red Devils.

And the two friends were at the heart of the English team’s rear-guard during their memorable 2018 FIFA World Cup run.

A friendly rivalry

Stones only recently regained Pep Guardiola’s trust after having a spell on the fringes of the starting XI, while Maguire’s made a slow start to the season.

The United skipper, however, is back in form and has now steadied the ship at Old Trafford in recent months. And he expressed his happiness at seeing Stones do the same on the blue side of Manchester.

He even revealed that the two kept in contact outside the playing field when the going got tough for them. Their off-pitch relations also irked some fans when the two embraced in a hug at the end of the first Manchester derby this season.

More Manchester United News:

• Uruguay coach talks up Edinson Cavani and his national team future
• Manchester United may not have the transfer budget to get across Jadon Sancho deal in the summer
• Sergio Romero could have his wife standing between him and a Manchester United exit

While having friends in the rival team might not be what’s expected of a United captain, it is only fair that fans make an exception in this case; as long as it stays off the field, of course.