Maguire has perfect response for Dwight Yorke after blunt "humiliation" claim
Harry Maguire has had the last laugh over Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke, who urged the centre-back to leave the Red Devils last summer as he was being "humiliated".
At the time, Maguire's future at Old Trafford was in huge doubt amid lingering interest from West Ham. The centre-back had fallen down the pecking order in the eyes of manager Erik ten Hag, who opted to use left-back Luke Shaw as a central defender ahead of Maguire - a man who has spent his entire career in that role.
Club hero Yorke viewed that as the final straw and urged Maguire to call time on his United stay as a result, telling OLBG: "I don’t think Harry Maguire will be an option for squad depth now, not when he’s been humiliated by the manager who spoke publicly about fighting for his place.
"It’s about being the best in your position at the club, that’s what he needs to aim for, his confidence will be low after his captaincy was taken away. Imagine seeing Luke Shaw playing in your position and you’re still on the bench, imagine what that would do to your confidence.
"Maguire might see it differently and he’s entitled to, but I think him leaving Man United is a no-brainer," Yorke added. "His respect in the changing room would have diminished, he would have been embarrassed by what’s happened in recent weeks."
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dashThree months down the line, the landscape is very different for Maguire at Old Trafford. Injuries to both Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have thrust the England international back into the limelight and his fine form has seen eight successive starts across all competitions as a result.
In turn, Maguire now feels he has been vindicated in his decision to snub interest from the Hammers and stay to fight for his United career. "I played a few games last year, 16 or 17 starts, and I felt like I performed really well in the games I played in, I just didn't play as many as I would have liked," the 30-year-old explained.
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"On the other hand, Rapha [Raphael Varane] and Licha [Lisandro Martínez] were playing brilliantly and kept numerous clean sheets. "I had to bide my time and be patient. I had two or three opportunities last season to get a run of games but I broke down with illness, I broke down with injuries twice, so I never got the rhythm and never got the run of games that I could prove myself to the manager. I have got that now.
"I am really enjoying my football and I really enjoy playing for this club. I was willing to stay and fight for my place and we have four or five top international centre-backs at this club and the competition for places is really high."
Maguire has barely put a foot wrong since his return to the starting XI. It is now on the likes of Varane and Martinez to fight for their place if they wish to wrestle minutes back off of United's £80million man.