Rúben Amorim’s found his unexpected Manchester United leader, says ex-Premier League boss

Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp reckons Rúben Amorim has found an unexpected leader in his Manchester United side.

Last week, Rúben Amorim explained that he feels he does not have enough leaders in his current Manchester United squad.

Speaking to the press surrounding Harry Maguire’s contract extension, the 39-year-old called the England international to become more of a leader as his squad were “starving” for one.

“When you look at our team we are starving for leaders on the pitch. He is a leader,” Amorim said, in reference to Maguire.

The team went on to put in a fantastic performance against Liverpool, drawing 2-2 with the current Premier League leaders, causing many to think twice about their early predictions that United would falter and sink under the Portuguese head coach.

Amorim has found an unexpected leader at United

Maguire is a player who has garnered particular praise for his display at Anfield bar a missed effort at the end of the tie on the weekend, with many impressed at how he’s resurged at the club.

Former Tottenham and Southampton manager Harry Redknapp went as far as to put him in his Premier League Team of the Week with BetVictor.

Redknapp explained that he feels Maguire has been showing authentic leadership at United and that he has risen to the challenge following Amorim’s comments.

“I’m putting Harry Maguire in the side,” he said. “I thought he was terrific at Anfield and dealt with most things that came his way.

“He was always a threat from set pieces and gave that backline some real leadership that’s been lacking in recent weeks. The less said about that chance at the end though, albeit it was hardly the greatest of passes to him!

“Rúben Amorim wants to keep him at the club for another year, and you can see why – I’d definitely look to keep him if I were at the club.”

Maguire’s resurgence at United has been unexpected

The position Maguire now finds himself in at Old Trafford is entirely unexpected considering the circumstances he found himself in during the summer of 2023.

After Erik ten Hag’s first season at the club, Maguire was stripped of the club’s captain armband, which was gifted to Bruno Fernandes.

United then agreed on a deal to sell him to West Ham for £30 million later that summer, but the move collapsed when he could not agree on financial terms with the London side, and he stayed at United.

He then went through a season of mixed form and injuries that further diminished his status at United, but towards the end of the campaign, he was able to find a new gear.

After staving off more interest from Premier League sides in the 2024 summer window, Maguire as built himself back up to a good level at United, and is now seen as a key player by Amorim.

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