In a recent interview with UtdDistrict, a former Manchester United defender has given his controversial opinion on Harry Maguire, stating the club ‘can’t allow sentiment’.
Since joining Manchester United back in 2019 for £80 million, Harry Maguire has been on the receiving end of copious amounts of criticism, which has often been unfair.
It is no secret that in the early days of his career at Old Trafford, Maguire struggled to live up to his price tag, although over the past few seasons, he has proved his worth to the side.
Since the arrival of Ruben Amorim, the English centre back has scored some crucial goals for his side, including a winner in the Europa League semi-final, as well as a winner against Premier League champions Liverpool.
Maguire has been a key feature in United’s recent success, although, despite this, former Red Devil Paul Parker has given his controversial take on the 32-year-old.
United ‘don’t need’ Maguire
When asked about whether the Reds should sell a couple of their stars by UtdDistrict, the former United defender stated that the club could move on from Maguire to allow their young stars to develop, and that they would be fools to let sentiment get in the way and offer him a new deal.
“I mean, they’ve been talking about Harry Maguire,” said Parker, “and I think it would be foolhardy of them to allow sentiment to get in the way of others players progressing.
“When you’ve got [Lisandro] Martinez sitting there to come back, and then you’ve got Heaven, and then you’ve got [Leny] Yoro, you don’t need another centre half, especially in the way he’s playing.
“You don’t need Harry Maguire there, because that’s going to stop a Yoro improving. It’s going to stop [Ayden] Heaven looking to fight against a Yoro for a regular place. You need to look to the future and build, and you’re looking to build around [Matthijs] De Ligt at the moment.
“Use his experience to pass on to those lads to then try and make a player, to try and get someone to be as good as De Ligt, as what he was at 20 years of age playing in the Champions League semi-final.”
United ‘can’t allow sentiment’
Parker finished off giving his opinion by saying, “I think that’s the main one, really. You can’t allow sentiment to get in the way of a decision.
“You have to make a decision, not for that one player, but for the majority. And if it’s for the majority, Harry Maguire won’t be missed.”
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Considering the crop of up-and-coming centre-backs that the Reds have at their disposal, it is easy to see where Parker is coming from, although these young talents could benefit from the guidance of Maguire.
The 32-year-old defender only has a contract at Old Trafford until next summer, so it will be interesting to see whether the club choose to extend him, or whether they move him on.
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