HARRY MAGUIRE will be staying at Manchester United for at least the next 18 months.
But the ex-skipper has also been told by Ruben Amorim that it’s time for him to stand up and be counted again, stressing: “We are starving for leaders.”
The Old Trafford boss, who also says that Amad Diallo is close to signing a new long-term deal, announced the club have triggered a one year extension on Maguire’s deal.
Without doing so the 31 year old would have become a free agent this summer.
Yet in revealing that he wants to keep the central defender who predecessor Erik ten Hag was prepared to sell, Amorim also delivered a back – handed compliment.
He declared : “Harry Maguire is going to trigger our option.
“I spoke with him this morning and told me he has to improve his game on the pitch.
“We need him a lot but he also has to improve as a leader.
“We know the situation he had here but we are going to trigger happily the option.”
The news caps a remarkable turnaround in fortune for the England defender.
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He was stripped of the captaincy by ten Hag in July 2023, in favour of Bruno Fernandes, and the Dutchman was willing to sell him to West Ham for £20M.
Even at the start of this season with ten Hag in control offers would have been listened to for the former Leicester City star who arrived I 2019 for £70M but ultimately lost his way.
Now, with Amorim desperate to resuscitate United’s fortunes after four successive defeats and Sunday’s scary visit to Anfield coming up, Maguire has become central to the Portuguese’ plans after it had looked like he as on the way out.
Amorim, going into his 12th game as boss and with only four wins, stressed : “There are moments in the career of a player that are different and difficult.
“Like we saw this last week with Josh Zirkzee.
“I think Maguire coped very well with his struggles while when you loo at our team we are starving for leaders.
“He is a leader. He has to improve that part and he has to improve our game and we are happy to continue with him.”
Diallo, says Amorim, is “near” to signing a new five – year contract, the 22 year old’s current deal also due to expire in the summer although United do have an option to add a further 12 months.
Talks that have gone on for weeks are set to come to a successful conclusion to the wing whizz who has been one of the few positives during Amorim’s nightmare start at the Red Devils.
Meanwhile Marcus Rashford, who has been ill over Christmas, will not again figure in Amorim’s squad, the manager revealing he has not trained all week.
