Aheed Abrar
Rio Ferdinand urges Harry Maguire to leave Manchester United next summer
Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand has urged Harry Maguire to part ways with the Red Devils in the upcoming transfer window to revive his career.
The England international has lost his place in the team since Erik ten Hag’s arrival in the Old Trafford side’s dugout. Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have been the gaffer’s preferred duo in the backline this season.
Speaking on Vibe with Five on YouTube (h/t Manchester Evening News), Ferdinand, who spent 12 years at United, feels it is time for the former Leicester City star to move on. The ex-defender believes the 30-year-old cannot stay at the Red Devils as a backup player.
“I think he needs to. If he wants to resurrect his career he has to go in the summer. He cannot stay there and play second fiddle. If he genuinely wants to stay as an England player and get back on track.”
The Old Trafford side signed Maguire in the summer of 2019 after his impressive displays for both club and country. Subsequently, a few months into the defender’s stint in Manchester, he was handed the captain’s armband.
In previous campaigns, the English national has been ever-present in United’s starting lineup. However, his fortunes have changed with the appointment of the former Ajax head coach in our dugout.
While Martinez and Varane have formed a formidable partnership at the Old Trafford side, the 30-year-old has fallen behind even the likes of Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw in the pecking order.
Maguire has not helped his cause with some shaky displays in the current campaign. At the start of the season, the centre-back looked shaky and was subsequently benched. Against Sevilla in the Europa League a few weeks back, the defender did not put in encouraging performances either.
Even though the English national has found game time hard to come by at United, Gareth Southgate has still trusted him. But it remains to be seen how long the Three Lions’ gaffer’s faith in the former Leicester star lasts.
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Ferdinand is right in his assessment. It would be best for both parties if Maguire ended his stint at United next summer. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the 30-year-old.
