Harry Maguire is hinting at a potential departure from Manchester United in January, expressing his reluctance to sit on the sidelines and play sporadically. The English center-back has seen his playing time diminish significantly, losing the club captaincy in the process. Maguire has only played 116 minutes in the Premier League this season, and manager Erik ten Hag remains unconvinced of his abilities. The 30-year-old, frustrated by his lack of opportunities, has openly discussed the possibility of seeking a move in the upcoming transfer window. While on international duty, Maguire stated, “I am not willing to spend my entire career sitting on the bench. If this situation continues, I am certain that the club and I will need to have a serious conversation. I want to be on the field, playing regular football.”
Despite his limited chances under Ten Hag, Maguire believes his performance record, especially in recent starts for both club and country, warrants more playing time. He emphasized, “If you examine my last 15-20 appearances for both club and country, I can confidently say that I am content with my performances. My statistics under this manager (Ten Hag) speak for themselves. While I haven’t started as many games as I’d prefer, my win percentage when I’ve played is remarkably high. I acknowledge there’s always room for improvement, and I’m committed to assisting the team whenever I’m given the chance. I just want to contribute positively and help the team out of our current situation.”
Manchester United has experienced a turbulent start to the 2023-24 season, sitting in 10th place in the Premier League with 12 points from eight games. Additionally, the team has suffered consecutive losses in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, adding to their challenges.