‘Give Harry Maguire a new deal’: Former Man United captain urges club to reward England defender and says he’s been unfairly made a ‘whipping boy’ for their failures
Harry Maguire deserves a new contract at Manchester United and a place in England’s World Cup squad after being unfairly turned into a ‘whipping boy’, says former Old Trafford captain Steve Bruce.
Maguire has faced more than his fair share of adversity playing for club and country. The 32-year-old defender has even been booed by his own fans on occasions, and lost the United captaincy under Erik ten Hag in 2023.
However, he has bounced back to prove his critics wrong a number of times, and is currently a key figure in United’s renaissance under new head coach Michael Carrick.
Maguire has started all six games since Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim, as United have won five of them and drawn the other to break into the top-four. The former Leicester player was particularly effective at Everton on Monday night as United withstood a late onslaught to win 1-0 at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium.
Maguire’s return to form and fitness has come at a good time with his representatives in talks over a new contract at United as the clock ticks down on the final four months of his current £180,000-a-week deal.
It has also caught the attention of England boss Thomas Tuchel who says that Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw are in his thinking ahead of this summer’s World Cup. Maguire has yet to play under Tuchel, having won the last of his 64 caps in the Nations League win over Ireland in September 2024.
Steve Bruce believes Harry Maguire deserves to be offered a new deal by Manchester United
Maguire has been booed by his own fans on occasion but has turned it around again at United
Bruce, a former United centre-back and skipper, believes Maguire should be rewarded with a new contract and a seat on England’s flight to North America.
‘I believe Harry has been made the whipping boy for too long,’ said Bruce. ‘I don’t think he’s ever let Man United down. In that fact, he’s never let England down either.
‘As I said, I think he became a whipping boy for what was going on around him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets offered a new deal. Why wouldn’t you? I think centre-halves get better with age.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he went to the World Cup either. He’s got good experience, he’s played at the highest level, he’s never let England down either. And he’s given a reminder of just what he’s about over the last five, six weeks in particular, if he ever needed to.’
Bruce also believes that Mainoo is playing himself into contention for the World Cup, having lost his England place on the back of being frozen out by Amorim at United.
Speaking to OLBG he added: ‘He has got back into the United team under Michael in the last six weeks, so it’s good to see him playing again because we haven’t seen him for a year or so.
‘He burst onto the scene. We all know that he’s a talent and, for whatever reason, Ruben Amorim never played him. If you’re not playing for your club side, then there’s no chance you’re going to a World Cup.
‘So I would have presumed that he’s put himself right back in the fray. He’s playing at the right time and playing very, very well again. So that’s good to see.’
Reinstating Maguire and Mainoo, as well as pushing Bruno Fernandes further forward in a in a 4-2-3-1 formation, has been a big part of Carrick’s early success. He and his coach staff, including former England No2 Steve Holland, are also getting the best out of summer signings Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Although United are keeping their options open over the head coach’s position beyond the end of this season, Bruce admits Carrick has given himself every chance to land the job full-time.
Bruce has also praised United’s interim boss Michael Carrick after a strong start in the role
‘Look, he’s put himself in pole position, even after six weeks,’ said the 65-year-old. ‘He’s been quite refreshing in his way and the one thing I’ve said about him, he understands Man United.
‘I don’t mean that disrespectfully at all to anybody coming in, but you don’t realise how big a club it is and how the scrutiny on you is like no other.
‘As soon as you walk in there, you’re in the spotlight; everything is analysed and he understands the club that way after playing for it for 13 years, this cool, calm demeanour that he’s got.
‘People getting fit, like Harry Maguire who was outstanding at Everton, (Lisandro) Martinez who didn’t play, all of a sudden they’re fit. Brings Kobbie Mainoo back into the team, and puts Bruno in his right position at No10.
‘If you’ve got good players, which Man United have got, and they’re comfortable in their playing position, then for me, you’d reap the rewards and he’s done it fantastically well.
‘Cunha, Mbeumo, Bruno and Sesko, they’re a threat to any team going forward. With think the shrewd appointment of Steve Holland, they look much, much more secure defensively. I think that’s the third clean sheet out of six since Michael took over, and that’s good to see too.’
