'I would leave Man Utd if I was Maguire - he's feeding on scraps at the moment'

17 July 2023 , 13:47

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'I would leave Man Utd if I was Maguire - he's feeding on scraps at the moment'

Former Manchester United star Gary Pallister has advised Harry Maguire to leave Old Trafford as he struggles for game time.

The centre-half, who cost the club £80m in 2019, has fallen out of favour since Erik ten Hag's arrival. Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have established themselves as the club's leading defensive pair, leaving Maguire to look on from the sidelines with his minutes limited.

Insult was added to injury last week when Ten Hag stripped Maguire of the captaincy, which he had held since being appointed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It could accelerate his desire to leave Old Trafford and Pallister believes the 30-year-old would be better served seeking pastures new.

He told DAZN Bet : “Maguire is kind of feeding on the scraps at the moment, so if it was me I would look to leave. I don’t know Harry or the situation, but I imagine it will be very difficult for Gareth Southgate to keep picking him for England. Even though he has stayed faithful to him through all his struggles, it is a personal decision for Harry to make now about whether or not he can get back into the team and get the fans back on his side.

“He is a good centre-half, you don’t get into the Team of the Tournament at European Championships for nothing. I feel for him because I was there when I first joined Manchester United from Middlesbrough and it is tough when it feels like everyone is gunning for you and there is no place to hide."

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Maguire has struggled to justify his fee ever since he joined from Leicester four years ago. He was a favourite under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and continued to be picked despite calls for him to be dropped amid several error-strewn performances, which also put his England spot in doubt.

Harry Maguire is expected to leave Manchester United this summer (James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)

Ten Hag was the first manager to chop Maguire as Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Gareth Southgate all stuck by him. The Dutchman needed just two games to pull the former Foxes star out of the firing line and begin partnering Martinez with Varane, leading to an upturn in results.

The Argentine, a summer signing 12 months ago from Ajax, has been tipped as the next man to skipper United by Pallister. "On the pitch, I think someone like Casemiro or maybe even Martinez would make good captains as they are both leaders," he added.

Maguire is the subject of interest from Chelsea, Tottenham, Inter Milan and two clubs from Saudi Arabia. Despite that he has put out a statement on social media following his captaincy snub and said: "I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt" whilst also adding "I wish whoever now takes it on every success and they will have my full support."

Samuel Meade