Wayne Rooney has voiced his belief that the decision to strip Harry Maguire of the Manchester United captaincy is indicative of manager Erik ten Hag’s lack of faith in the centre-back & also went a step further by encouraging Maguire to seek a fresh start elsewhere.
Maguire confirmed on Sunday that he would no longer wear the armband, prompting United to release a statement indicating that a new captain would be appointed “in due course” after Ten Hag had informed the players.
Last season, the England international’s standing at the Threatre of Dreams drastically declined, with the defender effectively becoming the fifth-choice option behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and even left-back Luke Shaw.
The 30-year-old is reportedly “angry, shocked, and upset” by the Dutchman’s decision to remove him as captain, and he is eager to revitalize his career at another club. Rooney shares the sentiment that a departure would be in the best interests of all parties involved.
That shows the manager really doesn’t believe in him. It leaves Harry in a position where he has to think about what he does moving forward. The manager has shown he is not part of the plans. I’m sure Harry will want to go and play—for himself, for his England career—to put himself in the best position to be as successful as he can. The best thing now is probably for him to move.”
Despite the captaincy controversy, Manchester United enjoyed a successful season, securing a third-place finish in the Premier League and winning the Carabao Cup, ending a six-year trophy drought. Rooney acknowledged the progress made under Ten Hag, praising the team’s signings and experienced players who contributed to their resurgence.
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