Nemanja Vidic, a Manchester United icon and former center defender, has outlined the issue with Harry Maguire's captaincy.
Maguire's role as club captain came under serious scrutiny last season as the squad struggled under Ralf Rangnick and his performance suffered significantly.
There were apparently divisions in the team after Cristiano Ronaldo joined, with some wanting the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to take over as captain.
Even players from teams other than Manchester United were perplexed by the decision, with Alphonso Davies admitting he didn't understand why it was Maguire and not Ronaldo.
In retrospect, knowing his actions leading up to his departure from the club at the conclusion of last year, the notion that Ronaldo could have served as captain at Old Trafford was somewhat absurd.
But even though Maguire wasn't participating in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, concerns about him still serving as the club's leader persisted.
Bruno Fernandes was spotted encouraging the troops toward the conclusion of extra time while the former Leicester City defender stood back.
Now Vidic has explained why he believes the captain doesn't have the authority he should have, "Maguire has a problem because he doesn’t perform well. When you don’t perform well it’s difficult to say to someone what to do," the Serbian explained on Rio Ferdinand's FIVE YouTube channel.
"I think that Maguire is doing well for the national team, he was great for Leicester. But obviously, he’s struggling to perform for Manchester United the way he’s performing for other clubs.
"It’s difficult to gain that type of respect, it’s nothing against Maguire now. In general, any captain has to be first, has to show an example, has to play well and has to fight for the club and then everybody else will do it."
When the Dutchman joined last summer, Erik ten Hag originally supported Maguire, and he was given the opportunity to maintain the armband.
He hasn't actually played much this season, though; Fernandes has occasionally struggled with the position and is typically picked as captain for each game.
The center defender last played for United in the team's Europa League quarterfinal loss to Sevilla last week, when he was held accountable for the game's first goal.
Maguire's skill with the ball was contrasted to colleague Lisandro Martinez, who dealt with a very similar situation, even if David de Gea also contributed to the mishap.
Vidic was complimentary about the World Cup winning Argentinian, saying, "I like him actually, the first thing I saw is that he likes to defend.
"I had doubts when he came because of his height, but he’s good in the air. He knows how to position himself.
"I think he’s a good character and good in the dressing room. He has that mentality, he is a fighter."
Harry Maguire might not even play for Old Trafford in the following season, according to claims that the club plans to sell 15 players during the forthcoming transfer window.
Harry Maguire and Anthony Martial are at the top of a list of 15 players who might be sold to pay for transfers for players like Ramus Hojlund and Victor Osimhen, two strikers who are desired by Manchester United, the Guardian reports.
Additionally, Jadon Sancho, who has fallen short of expectations since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, is up for sale. Victor Lindelof, Fred, and Scott McTominay might also leave.
Additionally named for transfer are Donny van de Beek, Anthony Elanga, Dean Henderson, and Brandon Williams. Currently on loan players Alex Telles, Hannibal Mejbri, and Eric Bailly are very probably going to leave, while Old Trafford will not be renewing the contracts of free agents Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe.
David de Gea might possibly depart, but negotiations for a new deal are still going on. When their loan agreements expire, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabizter are also expected to return to Burnley and Bayern Munich, respectively. Ten Hag may, however, attempt to negotiate the permanent signing of Sabizter with Bayern.
According to the most recent sources, Manchester United and one of their star players are about to agree on a contract.
Luke Shaw, a left-back for Manchester United, signed a new contract with the team on April 4. He will continue to be on their books through June 2027.
But the Red Devils still need to put in some effort if they want to stop a player exodus over the next 18 months. According to current circumstances, David de Gea is expected to become a free agent this summer, while players like Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Alejandro Garnacho have contracts that expire in June 2024.
The potential introduction of a wage cap has complicated Man Utd's negotiations with De Gea and Rashford, two of their top paid players. Man Utd is prepared to implement a salary cap at £300,000 per week in order to stop outrageous contracts from being offered, like those that were previously awarded to Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez. De Gea's career at Old Trafford is now in jeopardy due to this, since he presently earns a staggering £375,000 per week.
However, 90Min reports that Erik ten Hag's team is close to coming to a 'deal' with the goalie and his squad. Man United reportedly has overcome all significant obstacles and is only left with a few minor issues to resolve before an agreement can be finalized.
De Gea has consented to a pay reduction, albeit 90Min do not specify the financial terms of his new contract. Previously, it was stated that his weekly salary will decrease to £300,000.
Due to concerns over De Gea's performance, Man Utd has been linked to a number of goalkeepers. He was terrible as they lost to Sevilla in the Europa League semifinals, and he also didn't appear to be saving any penalties as Manchester United edged over Brighton to advance to the FA Cup final.
Diogo Costa of Porto, a goalkeeper, is one prospective target. Emi Martinez of Aston Villa and David Raya of Brentford have also been mentioned as possible targets for Manchester United.
Ten Hag, though, has advised Man Utd officials that, for the moment, extending De Gea's contract is the best course of action. Man United will struggle to afford a top-tier goalkeeper this summer as the manager prioritizes the acquisition of a new striker and midfielder.
He has therefore chosen to continue with De Gea for one more campaign before maybe going all-out to find a replacement in the summer of 2024.
When De Gea is committed, the Carabao Cup winners must negotiate Rashford's new conditions. He has thoroughly earned a significant new deal and has thoroughly enjoyed this period of his life. A new contract with Manchester United would also help to ward off Paris Saint-Germain, who are rumored to be fans of the attacking player.
Post a Comment