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Harry Maguire: Man Utd agree £80m world-record deal, becomes most expensive defender

Is Harry Maguire worth price tag of £80m?

  • No, its too high a price for him

    Votes: 5 71.4%

  • Yes, he is worth the amount paid for him

    Votes: 2 28.6%
  • Total voters
    7
A

Abdullah719

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Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign England centre-back Harry Maguire from Leicester for £80m - a world record fee for a defender.

The 26-year-old is expected to complete a medical at the club at the weekend.

He will become United's third summer signing following Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James, who arrived from Crystal Palace and Swansea respectively.

Maguire made 69 Premier League appearances for Leicester after joining from Hull City in 2017.

The deal means Maguire becomes the world's most expensive defender, eclipsing the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018.

United had a long-standing interest in Maguire but they backed away from a deal 12 months ago because they felt the £70m that would be needed for a transfer to be concluded was too high.

He signed a five-year contract at Leicester last September and manager Brendan Rodgers made it clear at the end of the season he felt Maguire could develop even more if he remained at the club.

Maguire began his career at Sheffield United in 2011, making 139 league appearances for the Blades before joining Hull in 2014.

He was part of the Hull side that earned promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2016 but left for Leicester following the Tigers' relegation 12 months later.

The defender made his England debut in August 2017 and was part of the side that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He becomes one of seven central defenders on the books at United, joining Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Axel Tuanzebe.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48989647
 
Other than pace, he has everything you want in a defender. Obviously he is overpriced, but a good signing for Manchester United. Also has the personality and mentality to play for Manchester United. They should be making more signings like this rather than the money motivated and shirt selling type.
 
The price is outrageous but he fits the requirement of United. He is good on the ball and offers an aerial presence that United lacked.
 
PakLFC said:
No he wasn't. VVD was always better and still is.
Click to expand...

At the same age range when VVD was at southampton, Maguire is a lot better - if you want i can back this up with stats - i just dont want you to run away after - even last season VVD was only better at putting in tackles, maguire was better in the air and a lot better on the ball, again let me know if you want to do this
 
The price is lolz but they got a proper CB finally.

United could be a real force in the Europa league this season.
 
United fans clutching at straws with their “stats”.

VVD is several levels above Maguire. It is embarrassing to compare them. However, he is a very good CB in his own right and will do well at United.

Nonetheless, they overpaid for him out of desperation for missing out on de Ligt, who is also several notches above him.

Maguire is just a good Premier League proven solid defender, nothing more. He is not a world beater.
 
everyone and their dog knew that man utd needed a CB desperately. they also knew that man utd are loaded with cash.

of course the rate was going to be astronomical. good bit of buisness for leicester.
 
I think with McGuire united can easily finish top half,,, 5,6 or 7..
 
ataullah said:
VVD is better but Maguire has better stats for last season surprisingly. He'll further improve at utd
Click to expand...

the comparison was for before VVD moved to liverpool, while at southampton, in his last season, he was pretty much the same age as Maguire in his last season for Leicester, and maguire was better, actually a lot better, nearly every expert on tv and newspapers were highly skeptical of VVD.

So to compare them now you need to give Maguire atleast a season at the top level with MU and he can only go up from here.
 
Not same level as VVD.

Also VVD was very good at Southampton and people who follow knew that. That is why Klopp stuck with trying to get him and preferred not to get an alternate
 
Remember when Man U fans laughed when Liv signed VVD for £75m?
 
in_cutter said:
Remember when Man U fans laughed when Liv signed VVD for £75m?
Click to expand...

I did and i still do - not because they bought him but because Klopp lost his marbles when we bought Pogba and vowed never to spend that much, then he went a broke the record for a defender.

Plus the market changes with every transfer, if liverpool never paid £75m for VVD, Leicester would have never demanded such an amount.

Anyway i hardly care if we spent £80m or £150m on him, because we have the financial clout to do it and if we didn't that money would stayed in the glazers pocket. On the other hand liverpool dont have that financial muscle and there spending last year meant they took a massive dent financial and couldn't afford to strengthen this year and probably next, whereas we can go in every transfer market and play football manager.
 
Ridiculous price. I'd be worried if I was a United fan because even though United have the money, Woodward probably won't want to splash similar amounts on Dybala or Fernandes. Who knows though, if Juventus for some reason are desperate to get rid of their best "young" talent in Dybala then it could happen.
 
Dybala will be for free considering we give them a player we dont need, and Fernandes would not be needed if we have Dybala, maybe we can put those funds into signing a Savic or another CM/DM.
 
He is your typical English player. Overrated, overhyped and overpriced. But he is still a good player and walks straight into our team. Hopefully he and Lindelof will form a solid partnership. With the signing of both Maguire and Wan Bissaka, hopefully the appearances of the rubbish English trio of Young, Smalling & Jones will be few and far between.
 
Great deal for Leicester, they can seriously strengthen their squad with the money.
 
PetroDollars said:
At the same age range when VVD was at southampton, Maguire is a lot better - if you want i can back this up with stats - i just dont want you to run away after - even last season VVD was only better at putting in tackles, maguire was better in the air and a lot better on the ball, again let me know if you want to do this
Click to expand...

There you go with your nonsense again! You can not prove McGuire is better, this is your opinion not a fact. VVD has done it with Liverpool winning the CL, McGuire plays for a club where no one expects to win anything. He has never played under pressure thus far. I will tell you the facts that VVD won the PFA players player of the year 2019 and Premier League Player of the season 2018.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ataullah said:
VVD is better but Maguire has better stats for last season surprisingly. He'll further improve at utd
Click to expand...

He will probably be injured most of the time like most of Man Utd players! It is easy to play well for a club where there is no pressure.
 
Poll added to this thread - please vote also
 
Manchester United have signed England centre-back Harry Maguire from Premier League rivals Leicester City for £80m - a world record fee for a defender.

The 26-year-old has agreed a six-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further year.

The fee for Maguire eclipses the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018.

"When Manchester United come knocking on your door, it is an incredible opportunity," said Maguire.

Maguire is the second most expensive signing in English top-flight history after new team-mate Paul Pogba (£89m), and becomes the second most expensive British player after Wales winger Gareth Bale, who joined Real Madrid from Tottenham for £85m in 2013.

He is United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's third summer signing, after right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka arrived from Crystal Palace for £50m and winger Daniel James joined from Swansea for £15m.

Maguire added: "From my conversations with the manager, I am excited about the vision and plans he has for the team.

"It's clear to see that Ole is building a team to win trophies. I am now looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and getting the season started."

Solskjaer said: "Harry is one of the best centre-backs in the game today.

"He is a great reader of the game and has a strong presence on the pitch, with the ability to remain calm under pressure.

"He will fit well into this group both on and off the pitch."

Premier League clubs have now spent more than £1bn this summer with three days remaining until the transfer window closes.

From £2.5m to a world record fee
United had a long-standing interest in Maguire but backed away from a deal 12 months ago because they felt the £70m asking price at the time was too high.

Maguire, who signed a five-year contract at Leicester last September, made 69 Premier League appearances for the club he joined from Hull City in 2017.

He began his career at Sheffield United, making 139 league appearances for the Blades before moving to Hull in 2014.

He was part of the side that earned promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2016, but left for Leicester in a £17m deal following the Tigers' relegation 12 months later.

Maguire made his England debut in August 2017 and helped his country reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, scoring in the 2-0 quarter-final win over Sweden.

He becomes one of seven centre-backs in United's squad, alongside Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Axel Tuanzebe.

Centre-back statistics since 2016-17 season
Source: Opta
Maguire Van Dijk Laporte Ramos Koulibaly Hummels Umtiti Kompany Pique De Ligt
Mins played 8,326 7,492 8,439 7,253 8,672 6,170 5,512 3,442 7,975 6,447
Tackles 148 102 144 122 169 145 86 50 116 82
Aerial duels won (%) 71% 74% 67% 65% 57% 66% 65% 72% 71% 62%
Interceptions 148 141 140 141 146 144 102 48 104 107
Clearances 469 499 341 268 362 172 166 167 376 317
Errors leading to goals 1 1 0 1 4 2 1 0 3 4



https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49224905
 
Seems like another fluff in the market by United, but this time it has cost them £80m. Most defenders are not worth that money because it takes more than just individual pieces to organize a defense.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">News outlets in Greece have claimed Harry Maguire and two others were arrested for fighting in Mykonos last night.<br><br>Police handcuffed the United captain after he and his friends were caught fighting with another English group. <br><br>(Article in the replies) <a href="https://t.co/JpzqxUdTxr">pic.twitter.com/JpzqxUdTxr</a></p>— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) <a href="https://twitter.com/FootyAccums/status/1296736258002124800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Harry Maguire involved in ‘alleged incident’ in Mykonos, say Manchester United

Manchester United have been made aware of an “alleged incident” involving captain Harry Maguire in Mykonos on Thursday night.

The England defender, 27, is reported to have been arrested following an incident on the Greek island.

Manchester United said in a statement: “The club is aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night.

“Contact has been made with Harry, and he is fully co-operating with the Greek authorities.

“At this time we will be making no further comment.”

United players are taking time off after their Europa League exertions earlier this month. The club were eliminated by Spanish side Sevilla last Sunday.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...ved-in-mykonos-incident-say-manchester-united
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mykonos police on detaining Harry Maguire: "The soccer player was verbally abusive to an officer and then hit him," per <a href="https://twitter.com/ReutersUK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ReutersUK</a> <a href="https://t.co/prcRdpWuMN">pic.twitter.com/prcRdpWuMN</a></p>— B/R Football (@brfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1296776612416028672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Harry Maguire facing possible charge of assaulting police officer in Greece

Manchester United’s captain, Harry Maguire, is expected to be charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly “hit” a police officer and was arrested following an altercation on Thursday evening in Mykonos. The England defender spent the night in police custody and is to face charges on the neighbouring island of Syros – the administrative centre for the region.

Maguire was with friends in a bar on the Greek island when the incident occurred and the 27-year-old subsequently detained along with two friends and taken to a local police station for questioning.

“The soccer player was verbally abusive to an officer and then hit him. The three were resisting when brought to the Mykonos police station,” said a police official, who added Maguire and his friends will be taken by boat to Syros to face charges brought by a public prosecutor. Greek media reported that Maguire had got into “a very heated altercation” with other English holidaymakers on the party island late on Thursday. When policemen, subsequently called to the scene, attempted to break up the midnight brawl, they were verbally abused.

“There were several policemen there. At some point, one of the three members of the group – they were aged 27, 28, and 29 – threw a swing at one of the policemen and a fight ensued,” added police spokesperson Petros Vassilakis. “All of the three were arrested but during the effort to do so, the other two, including the football player, got violent also. They threw down at least two policemen, hit them with their fists and kicked them.

“I can’t tell you what they were telling us,” he added. “All English swear words against the authorities and against the work of the police. All three, including the football player, are being held in custody, locked up in Mykonos cell. They will appear before a state prosecutor on the island of Syros later today to be charged with aggravated assault.”

A statement from United on Friday read: “The club is aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night. Contact has been made with Harry, and he is fully co-operating with the Greek authorities. At this time we will be making no further comment.” Maguire will have legal advice and support from club lawyers, with it thought the player’s own legal representatives will also be involved

If found guilty of an offence it will cause Ole Gunnar Solskjær, United’s manager, a serious problem and could threaten Maguire’s status as United captain. The 27-year-old was signed by Solskjær last summer, the £80m fee paid to Leicester City a world record for a centre-back. He was then made captain by the manager and has been key to the rebuilding of team culture and performance, United finishing third.

Maguire is enjoying a close-season break before the start of United’s next campaign, which begins on 19 September with the visit of Crystal Palace.

United were knocked out of the Europa League by Sevilla on Monday, with Maguire playing the whole game, and on Thursday evening his fiancee, Fern Hawkins, posted a picture to Instagram of them together with the caption: “Holidays with you ... ♥️.” He was also photographed supposedly celebrating the birthday of the 2019 world snooker champion, Judd Trump, on the island.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...er-alleged-incident-manchester-united-england
 
Greek police issue statement over Harry Maguire incident in Mykonos

Greek police have issued a statement after an alleged incident involving Manchester United captain Harry Maguire.

The 27-year-old, the world's most expensive defender following his £80million move to Old Trafford last summer, is currently on holiday on the island of Mykonos after being given two weeks off.

But Maguire and two other men were reportedly involved in an incident with police on the Greek island overnight.

The Hellenic Police allege one of their officers was hit as he tried to break up a disturbance on the island and that three men involved later resisted arrest by "pushing and beating three officers".

The Mirror has pictures of Maguire, reportedly one of the three men arrested, arriving at a court and being escorted by plain clothes police officers into the central police station in Syros.

Police say they have prepared a file, which includes accusations of "disobedience, bodily harm, insult and attempted bribery of an employee", the Mirror reports.

A statement from the Hellenic Police's South Aegean region press office said: "Three foreigners, aged 27, 28 and 29, were arrested today (August 21, 2020) in Mykonos by police officers of the Mykonos police department."

"Patrolling police officers in the area of Mykonos intervened and normalised a dispute between citizens, however, three foreigners involved in the incident turned against them, insulting and hitting a police officer with fists."

"The three foreigners were taken to the Mykonos Police Station, where upon their arrival they strongly resisted, pushing and beating three police officers.

"The arrested (men) were taken to the Syros Prosecutor's Office."

Police say that one of the three men is also accused of attempted bribery by trying "to offer money so that the trial against them would not be completed".

But they have not said if that accusation is against Maguire, who has won 26 caps for his country, or one of the other men.

United released a statement earlier on Friday which read: "The club are aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night.

"Contact has been made with Harry, and he is fully co-operating with the Greek authorities.

"At this time we will be making no further comment."

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...ws/greek-police-issue-statement-over-18810138
 
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is due in court following his arrest on the island of Mykonos, Greek police have said.

The England footballer, 27, was arrested following an alleged fight on Thursday night, along with two other Britons.
 
Oh dear.

Another footballer in trouble.

More money than sense, these guys.
 
Captain of one of the biggest clubs in Europe is sitting in a Greek jail :salute
 
MenInG said:
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is due in court following his arrest on the island of Mykonos, Greek police have said.

The England footballer, 27, was arrested following an alleged fight on Thursday night, along with two other Britons.
Click to expand...

Harry Maguire: Manchester United captain to appear in Greek court after 'hitting police officer'

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is due in court following his arrest on the island of Mykonos, Greek police have said.

The England defender, 27, was arrested following an alleged fight on Thursday night, along with two other Britons, aged 28 and 29.

Police said there had been an altercation and an exchange of words with officers, and that the three men would appear before a prosecutor on the nearby island of Syros on Saturday.

A statement released by the Hellenic Police's South Aegean region press office on Friday afternoon read: "Patrolling police officers in the area of Mykonos intervened and normalised a dispute between citizens.

"However, three foreigners involved in the incident turned against them, insulting and hitting a police officer with fists.

"The three foreigners were taken to the Mykonos Police Station, where upon their arrival they strongly resisted, pushing and beating three police officers.

"One of the detainees then tried to offer money so that the trial against them would not be completed. The arrested (men) were taken to the Syros Prosecutor's Office."

Maguire and the two other detainees were transported to Syros by ship, where they now face charges by a public prosecutor.

The prosecutor is considering three charges - aggravated assault, verbal assault and also the most serious one, the attempted bribery of an official.

Although it is unclear which of these charges specifically pertain to Maguire and which to the two other men it could be as much as a three year prison sentence for attempted bribery.

Manchester United said in a statement: "The club is aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night.

"Contact has been made with Harry, and he is fully co-operating with the Greek authorities. At this time we will be making no further comment."

Maguire had been on Mykonos with family and friends, having been given two weeks off following the side's semi-final defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League on Sunday.

The club is set to open their 2020/21 Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on September 19 - having had their start delayed by a week due to their European involvement.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...ged-incident-in-mykonos-say-manchester-united
 
BREAKING: Harry Maguire avoids questions after appearing in court over Mykonos 'fight'

Harry Maguire avoided answering questions following his court appearance in Greece after being detained for questioning over an alleged brawl.

The England footballer was arrested following an alleged fight on the island of Mykonos on Thursday night, along with two other Britons.

Police said there had been an altercation and an exchange of words with officers.

When asked by Sky's Martha Kelner whether Maguire was still a free man, his lawyer replied: "Right now, yes."

skynews-harry-maguire-football_5074313.jpg


https://news.sky.com/story/harry-ma...ppearing-in-court-over-mykonos-fight-12054339
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has pleaded not guilty to charges after appearing in court following his arrest on the island of Mykonos.</p>— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1297155801770004480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Abdullah719 said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has pleaded not guilty to charges after appearing in court following his arrest on the island of Mykonos.</p>— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1297155801770004480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Click to expand...

Harry Maguire pleads not guilty to assault and attempted bribery after 'fight' in Mykonos

Harry Maguire has denied charges of assault and attempted bribery during his court appearance in Greece, after spending two nights in a police cell over an alleged brawl.

Manchester United said in a statement: "Following the appearance in court today we note the adjournment of the case to allow the legal team to consider the case file.

"Harry has pleaded not guilty to the charges. It would be inappropriate for the player or club to comment further while the legal process takes its course."

When asked by Sky's Martha Kelner afterwards whether Maguire was still a free man, his lawyer replied: "Right now, yes."

However, he replied "no comment" when she asked him if the 27-year-old defender was free to return to England.

https://news.sky.com/story/harry-maguire-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges-over-mykonos-fight-12054339
 
As a united fan who was a regular at old Trafford I have to admit Harry mguire was way over priced and overrated, to make it clear next season in the champions league he will be definitely be found out by the cream of the crop.
 
Harry Maguire: England boss Gareth Southgate intends to speak with Manchester United defender

Harry Maguire will speak with Gareth Southgate before the England manager makes any decision on whether to include the Manchester United defender in his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Maguire and two co-defendants have been charged with aggravated assault and attempted bribery of an official following a late night dispute on the Greek holiday island of Mykonos.

Maguire denies all charges.

The next stage of his trial is on Tuesday on the neighbouring island of Syros, the same day Southgate names his England squad.

Maguire would usually be a guaranteed selection but Southgate wants to hear the 27-year-old's full account of what happened, before he includes or omits him from the squad.

Maguire will not be present for the hearing in Syros - but Sky News understands that his lawyers will argue on his behalf that a dispute began with two Albanian men while in the Fabrica area of Mykonos town.

Greek media reported that Maguire's sister Daisy was "stabbed with a sharp object".

Sky News understands that Daisy was left with a bloodied arm and Maguire and others then intervened to defend his sibling.

Plain clothes police officers who were patrolling the area to enforce new coronavirus restrictions on the island intervened and a scuffle broke out.

It is thought that Maguire then attempted to return to his private villa on Mykonos but officers insisted he report to the main police station on the island.

A statement released by the Hellenic Police's South Aegean region press office on Friday afternoon read: "Patrolling police officers in the area of Mykonos intervened and normalised a dispute between citizens.

"However, three foreigners involved in the incident turned against them, insulting and hitting a police officer with fists.

"The three foreigners were taken to the Mykonos police station, where upon their arrival they strongly resisted, pushing and beating three police officers.

"One of the detainees then tried to offer money so that the trial against them would not be completed. The arrested (men) were taken to the Syros Prosecutor's Office."

The maximum sentence for bribery of an official could be three years in jail.

But Sky News understands the charge has been downgraded and that all the charges Maguire is now facing are misdemeanours, not the more serious felony charges.

It is highly likely that Maguire will receive a hefty fine of tens of thousands of pounds and a suspended prison sentence if he is found guilty.

Manchester United have appointed an Athens based lawyer to represent their captain, who phoned representatives at the club while he was still incarcerated in a police holding cell on Mykonos.

He spent a night at a police holding cell in Syros before an initial hearing, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Maguire was joined in court by his father Alan who flew out to be with his son and bring him a spare change of clothes.

Maguire is understood to have been keen to chat with both Manchester United and Southgate to explain his version of events.

England players previously had to abide by a code of conduct which set out 33 strict "do's and dont's" but that was abandoned by Southgate when he was appointed in 2016.

It is thought he prefers a more personal relationship with his players and likes to consider things on a case by case basis.

Ordinarily Maguire would be a key member of the squad for England as they prepare for Nations League fixtures against Iceland and Denmark on September 5 and 8, respectively.

But the 27-year-old has put the England manager in a tricky position after the events on Mykonos.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...ends-to-speak-with-manchester-united-defender
 
Harry Maguire is very unlikely to face any jail time if he is found guilty of aggravated assault and attempted bribery of a police officer, according to a lawyer in Mykonos.

The Manchester United captain spent two nights in custody after he was arrested during a holiday with family and friends on the Greek island.

Police said there had been an altercation and an exchange of words with an officer who tried to break up a fight. Maguire has denied charges of aggravated assault and attempted bribery of an official.

Zannis Panayotakopoulos, a lawyer in Mykonos, said the charges Maguire faces are all misdemeanours and not the more serious felony end of the scale.

"Bribes are very serious crimes in Greece," Mr Zannis said.

"But I believe that it has become a misdemeanour."

He added: "The highest sentence can be five years imprisonment and a fine. But most of these crimes have big and heavy fines and definitely not prison time.

"In Greece, in our legal system, we have second chances."

As coronavirus restrictions around the world made many holiday destinations impossible to visit, Premier League footballers headed to Mykonos for the clear waters, blue skies and all-day beach parties.

Maguire spent time on the island with Manchester United teammates Marcus Rashford and Brandon Williams.

Leicester star Jamie Vardy, Liverpool's Trent Alexander Arnold and Tottenham's Dele Alli are among the others who have spent their post-season holiday in Mykonos.

In the high-end shops and flashy bars, they are keen to protect the privacy of VIP guests.

But stories have spread quickly about how Maguire, the world's most expensive defender, ended up spending two nights in a police cell.

Peter Nazo, the owner of Mykonos Live TV, filmed a video of Maguire enjoying himself on Thursday night, just an hour before the incident which resulted in his arrest.

"He was very kind to us," said Mr Nazo.

"He took pictures with my friends. He was quiet but the people he was with were shouting quite loudly.

"I was very shocked when I heard that he had been arrested that night because I felt like he was a good guy."

Mr Nazo said he hoped what happened would not deter footballers from visiting the island.

"Of course they are welcome here," he said. "Why not? This was not a big deal, it was just drinking and a fight."

Maguire will not be present for the hearing in Syros, but Sky News understands that his lawyers will argue on his behalf that a dispute began with two Albanian men while in the Fabrica area of Mykonos town.

Greek media reported that Maguire's sister Daisy was "stabbed with a sharp object".

Sky News understands that Daisy was left with a bloodied arm and Maguire and others then intervened to defend his sibling.

Plain-clothes police officers who were patrolling the area to enforce new COVID-19 restrictions intervened and a scuffle broke out.

It is thought that Maguire then attempted to return to his private villa on Mykonos but officers insisted he report to the main police station on the island.

Also on Tuesday, England men's football manager Gareth Southgate will name his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Iceland and Denmark.

He faces a dilemma about whether to include Maguire, who would have been almost guaranteed a place in the squad before this week.

https://news.sky.com/story/harry-ma...d-for-misdemeanour-in-mykonos-lawyer-12055981
 
Harry Maguire: Man Utd captain's trial under way on Greek island

The trial of Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has begun on the Greek island of Syros.

He is represented by Alexis Anagnostakis, one of Greece's top human rights lawyers.

The 27-year-old was released from police custody on Saturday following his arrest on the island of Mykonos on Thursday after an alleged altercation with police officers.

He is not obliged to be in attendance.

Maguire has already pleaded not guilty.

He did not comment after leaving court on Saturday and his lawyer told Sky he was a free man "right now".

The Syros prosecutor's office said on Friday that "three foreigners" had been arrested after an alleged altercation with police officers in Mykonos on Thursday.

The court listing for the case says the other two defendants are Maguire's brother Joe, 28, and family friend Christopher Sharman, 29. Maguire's father Alan was at the court hearing.

Police say a file has been opened which includes accusations of "violence against officials, disobedience, bodily harm, insult and attempted bribery of an official".

Maguire, who was on holiday in Greece, joined United from Leicester for £80m - a world record fee for a defender - in August 2019.

Greek police said in a statement on Friday that officers had tried to break up an altercation between two groups outside a bar and that the three foreigners had then verbally abused and assaulted one of the officers.

The statement claimed that after arriving at Mykonos police station, the three arrested individuals then "strongly resisted, pushing and hitting three police officers" and that "one of the detainees tried to offer money so that the trial against them would not be completed".

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53884973
 
Harry Maguire said to police officers 'do you know who I am?' during Greece altercation, court hears

Harry Maguire was kicked in the leg by police officers who told him "your career is over", the Manchester United captain's lawyer has told a Greek court.

The prosecution alleged that once Maguire arrived at a police station, he said: "Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go."

Plain clothes police officers intervened to try calm the situation, but the "English men" did not, and one of the defendants said "f***, f*** the police" and one punched an officer, it was claimed.

The court had been asked to postpone proceedings over Maguire's alleged involvement in a brawl on the island of Mykonos in Greece - with his legal team claiming they did not have enough time to prepare.

But the trial went ahead against his defence team's wishes, with his lawyer Alexis Anagnostakis telling the court in Syros that two Albanian men had approached Maguire's sister Daisy - who fainted immediately after being injected with an unknown substance.

They called for transport and asked to be driven to hospital, but were instead taken to a police department.

Mr Anagnostakis alleged that Maguire was then kicked in the leg by police officers who told him: "Your career is over."

The defence argued they were breaking away to make a phone call. But the police officer said he did not see them make one.

The court heard one officer received first aid while trying to make an arrest, because Maguire got angry when he realised he was handcuffed and tried to break away.

The officer who handcuffed Maguire said the footballer pushed him hard, causing him to fall backwards and hurt his back and suffer a leg injury. He said he was injected with painkillers and took the next day off to recover.

A third police officer gave a similar account of events in court.

Earlier, Mr Anagnostakis said the list of charges was finalised just yesterday, so he only received a hard copy of the file this morning - two hours before the trial.

Maguire, who was not present in court, pleaded not guilty, denying charges of aggravated assault and attempted bribery of an official.

The Manchester United captain was released from police custody on Thursday after he was arrested during a holiday with family and friends.

Police said there had been an altercation and an exchange of words with an officer who tried to break up a fight.

As coronavirus restrictions around the world made many holiday destinations impossible to visit, Premier League footballers headed to Mykonos. Maguire spent time on the island with his Manchester United team-mates Marcus Rashford and Brandon Williams.

Leicester forward Jamie Vardy, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tottenham's Dele Alli are among the others who have spent their post-season holiday in Mykonos.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...-told-his-career-was-over-assault-trial-hears
 
Harry Maguire found guilty of aggravated assault and attempted bribery in Greece

Harry Maguire has been found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery by a three-member misdemeanours court convening on the Greek island of Syros.

The £190,000-a-week Manchester United and England defender had denied all charges. After the judgment was announced the three-member court retired to deliberate on sentencing which, like all defendants, he will be able to appeal against.

Maguire, who was named in England’s squad on Tuesday while the trial was ongoing, allegedly told police, “Do you know who I am? I am very rich, I can give you money,” the court heard as the player went on trial days after being arrested for allegedly assaulting a policeman during a late-night brawl on Mykonos.

The assertion by two police officers who appeared as key witnesses for the prosecution was among a host of unsavoury claims that emerged at a hearing that Maguire’s lawyer, Alexis Anagnostakis, had desperately tried to postpone arguing he had formally received the charge sheet only hours earlier.

In proceedings that from the outset took many by surprise, the three-member misdemeanours court overruled Anagnostakis’s appeal.

Instead it was ruled the trial – attended by the 27-year-old footballer’s father, Alan – would begin as planned on Syros, the capital of the Cycladic isles to which Mykonos belongs. With police surrounding the building in searing temperatures, the case opened with several hours’ delay after officials had posted on the court’s notice board the names of the three suspects: Harry Maguire, his older brother Joe and Christopher Sharman, a friend. They too were found guilty on all charges despite vigorous denials and can also appeal.

The Britons were forced to endure two nights in police cells following the brawl, which is said to have erupted after rival fans publicly taunted the footballer on a day of heavy drinking in a beach bar on the famous party island.

Maguire had flown to Mykonos days before for a holiday that included teammates Marcus Rashford and Brandon Williams, his fiancée Fern Hawkins and his younger sister Daisy.

The defender was alleged to have attempted to bribe law enforcers after being taken to Mykonos’s police station in the wake of the brawl. As the severity of the incident hit home, the centre-back was described by one of the two police officers as not only resisting arrest but pleading to be released. “Please, let me go. I am very rich. I can pay. I am the leader of Manchester United,” he allegedly said.

Another on-duty officer who had rushed to the scene to break up the fight described how he was pushed so hard by the footballer as he tried to detain him that he fell on his back and had to be injected with painkillers.

Apostolakis, who had been flown in from Athens to represent the trio, disputed the account, telling the court that Harry Maguire was deliberately “kicked” and shoved by police officers who also attempted to demean him saying “your career is over”.

Anagnostakis, a leading human rights lawyer, who often defends Britons who get into trouble in Greece, said the brawl had been set off when Maguire learned his sister had been attacked by two men. Describing the pair as Albanians he said they had deliberately “injected” the 20-year-old with a substance that had caused her to instantly faint.

Ashden Morley, a friend of the Maguires called by the defence to corroborate the incident, said the group suspected she had been injected with a rape drug after Hawkins noticed Daisy’s eyes “rolling back in her head”. The group had called the driver of their rented van to take them to the island’s health clinic but found themselves being driven instead to the police station, the lawyer claimed.

Some of the most dramatic moments in the courtroom came when Morley, aged 27, a quantity surveyor, said the group thought they were going to be kidnapped by men chasing them in cars behind the media. “Our bus door opened and five or six males tried to force us off by physically pulling us,” he said recounting the scenes and fear that they were about to be “held at ransom”.

Under Greece’s penal code, Maguire could face a three-year sentence but is likely to be spared as a result of a scheme that allows defendants to convert their sentences into “paid” penalties.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...y-of-aggravated-assault-and-bribery-in-greece
 
Harry Maguire: Manchester United captain given suspended sentence in Greece

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in prison after his trial on the Greek island of Syros.

The England defender, 27, was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after arrest on Mykonos.

Maguire said after Tuesday's verdict that he had instructed his legal team "with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing".

"I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter - if anything myself, family and friends are the victims," he added.

The sentence is suspended for three years because it is a first offence and the charges were misdemeanours.

BBC Sport understands that, in light of the verdict, the Football Association is reviewing Maguire's inclusion in the England squad for September's Uefa Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark. The squad had been announced earlier on Tuesday.

Maguire was arrested along with brother Joe, 28, and Christopher Sharman, 29, on Thursday after an altercation with police.

Joe Maguire has been found guilty of repeated bodily harm, violence against public employees and attempted bribery.

Sharman has been found guilty of insult, repeated bodily harm and violence against public employees.

Both were sentenced to 13 months in prison, suspended for three years.

All three men denied all charges.

Harry Maguire, who was on Tuesday named in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad, was not in attendance at the trial in Syros, but his father, Alan, was.

The United captain is being represented by Alexis Anagnostakis, one of Greece's top human rights lawyers, who asked for a postponement, but that was rejected by the judge.

Manchester United said in a statement: "Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence.

"It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defence team minimal time to digest them and prepare. A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied.

"On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges, Harry Maguire's legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date."

Anagnostakis told the court the events stemmed from Maguire's sister Daisy being injected by a substance by a group of Albanians and she immediately fainted.

The defendants called for transport and asked to be driven to a hospital, but were instead taken to a police station.

The prosecution said Maguire, his brother and friend then physically and verbally attacked police officers.

One policeman alleged that while at the police station, Maguire said: "Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United. I am very rich. I can give you money. I can pay you. Please let us go."

His colleague added that Maguire had said to him: "Please, let me go. I am very rich. I can pay. I am the leader of Manchester United."

The defence argued that this request may have been lost in translation and suggested Maguire may have been asking to pay a "fine" to be released.

In response to the charge of insult, the defence added that the defendants said things which did not imply diminished professionalism by the police officers.

Anagnostakis said the defendants had been beaten, an assertion confirmed by a forensic expert, and added that Maguire became angry only after he was as hit on his "golden leg", insinuating his dominant leg in football.

Analysis- 'No immediate decision over Man Utd captaincy'
BBC Sport's Simon Stone

There will be no immediate decision over whether Harry Maguire will retain the Manchester United captaincy.

Although as the club do not expect a resolution to the £80m defender's appeal until well after their first Premier League game of the new season against Crystal Palace on 19 September, officials accept it is a conversation that will have to take place at some point.

Maguire has been in regular communication with the club since the story broke on Friday and does understand the disruption that has been caused by events of recent days.

United's squad is not scheduled to return for pre-season training until 2 September. Presently, they have no friendlies arranged.

However, it is likely there will be some, although whether these will be played with no media present, as was the case with their pre-lockdown games, remains to be seen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53903703
 
Harry Maguire has posted on Instagram after being removed from the England squad over an assault conviction in Greece.

The 27-year-old defender was given a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and attempted bribery by a court on the island of Syros on Tuesday.

He was handed a jail term of 21 months and 10 days, but it will be suspended because it was a first offence and the charges were classed as misdemeanours.

The England captain posted a quote late on Tuesday night attributed to Buddha, which said: "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth."

Maguire had been included in the England squad by manager Gareth Southgate earlier on in the day.

But Southgate decided to remove him from the team following the convictions.

Southgate said in a statement: "In light of this evening's developments, I can confirm I have withdrawn Harry Maguire from the England squad for the matches against Iceland and Denmark.

"As I said earlier today, I reserved the right to review the situation. Having spoken to Manchester United and the player, I have made this decision in the best interests of all parties and with consideration of the impact on our preparations for next week."

Yoannis Paradissis, the lawyer who assisted the prosecution, told Sky News the victims are still waiting for an apology.

Sky News sports correspondent Martha Kelner, who was at court in Syros, said Maguire being dropped by England is "the biggest punishment of all".

She said: "Gareth Southgate was very fulsome in his backing of Harry Maguire and said what he was hearing reported did not match up to the man he knows, but that all changed in light of this afternoon's developments."

Kelner added: "The frenetic eight-hour trial involved witness after witness, and it didn't look great for Harry Maguire - and when that verdict arrived it was exactly the one Maguire and his family didn't want.

"Harry Maguire has said tonight that he plans on appealing the verdict."

Maguire, who was not present at the trial, was found guilty of all charges, including attempting to bribe a police officer.

The footballer was arrested with his brother and a friend after a fight broke out, while he was on holiday in Mykonos, over claims his sister was injected with a suspected "rape drug".

Manchester United said in a statement Maguire "continues to strongly assert his innocence" and the trial gave his lawyers "minimal time to digest the charges and prepare".

The lawyers had asked the court to postpone proceedings over the incident, which happened last Thursday during a family getaway.

But the trial went ahead in the absence of all three defendants - Maguire, his brother Joe and their friend Christopher Sharman.

Joe Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, violence against public employees and attempted bribery.

Sharman was found guilty of insult, repeated bodily harm and violence against public employees.

Both were sentenced to 13 months in prison, suspended for three years.

Speaking after the verdict, Yoannis Paradissis, the lawyer who assisted the prosecution, told Sky News the victims are still waiting for an apology and are "appalled" at the footballer trying to blame police officers.

He also rubbished the star's claims he did not know who the officers were, adding: "They were taken outside the police station, there were police vehicles, the policemen showed their police IDs.

"It's a total lie they didn't understand. They were found guilty of verbally assaulting the policeman by saying 'f*** the police'. How can you say that to someone who is not a policeman?"

Maguire's lawyer Alexis Anagnostakis previously told the court that two Albanian men had approached his sister Daisy and gave her an unknown substance, which made her faint instantly.

Ashden Morley, a friend of the footballer's since childhood, said his fiancee Fern Hawkins had noticed that Daisy's eyes were rolling back in her head around midnight.

The group suspected two Albanian men had injected her with a rape drug, Mr Morley told the court.

Plain clothed police officers intervened to try to calm the situation when one of the defendants said "f***, f*** the police" and an officer was punched, prosecutors told the trial.

Once Maguire arrived at the police station, he said: "Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go," the court was told.

But Mr Anagnostakis claimed that at the station Maguire was kicked in the leg by officers who told him: "Your career is over."

He pleaded not guilty to all three charges and spent two nights in custody after he was arrested.

Maguire has made 26 appearances for England. The team are due to play Iceland on 5 September and Denmark three days later in the UEFA Nations League.

Southgate's side have not played this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which led to the European Championship being postponed until 2021.

https://news.sky.com/story/harry-ma...d-after-assault-conviction-in-greece-12056641
 
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Manchester United intend to stick with Harry Maguire as club captain for the upcoming season.
 
Harry Maguire has begun the battle to clear his name and been told by the prosecution lawyer handling the case that an apology could help his appeal against his conviction following a brawl in Mykonos.

Ioannis Paradissis said by saying sorry Manchester United’s captain could pave the way for “a different sentiment” to prevail when he attempts to overturn his suspended 21-month sentence before a higher court. Paradissis believes accusations of aggravated assault and verbal assault could then be dropped.

Maguire appealed on Wednesday against a Greek court ruling that he was guilty also of resisting arrest and attempted bribery after his involvement in a fracas outside a bar last Thursday. Legal sources confirmed his defence team had lodged the appeal citing as “wrong and misleading” the accusations levelled against the 27-year-old and his two co-defendants. Once the appeal process is launched under Greek law a conviction remains pending.

“The appeal has been accepted and will lead to a full retrial in a more senior court,” Manchester United said. “This means that Harry has no criminal record and is once again presumed innocent until proven guilty. Accordingly, he is not subject to any international travel restrictions.”

Paradissis, urging Maguire to apologise, told the Guardian: “The charges of resisting arrest and repeated bribery attempts could not be dropped under Greek law. But verbal assault and physical assault could, I believe. It is by no means certain but theoretically the decision could be a very different one if Maguire was man enough and did what he should have done all along and apologised.”

Maguire’s younger brother Laurence, who has not been involved in the case, tweeted on Wednesday: “Absolute no chance Harry will be apologising.”

Paradissis, who represented three of the policemen who appeared in court as key witnesses, said his clients and “many Greeks” had been appalled by the England international’s inability to apologise and evident lack of “empathy and sympathy towards people who were simply doing their job”.

“If you are a role model you should know how to assume responsibility and explain your position,” he said. “We have heard nothing from him except that he is a victim and that he believes he is innocent. Where is the empathy and sympathy towards people who were simply doing their job but ended up being violently attacked? Not saying anything is neither sportsmanlike, nor in the spirit of fair play.”

The lawyer said he believed that while the wheels of Greek justice moved slowly, the appeal could be heard before the higher tribunal – and a new set of judges – “within one to two years”.

Maguire’s “lawful life” before the episode had acted as a strong “mitigating” factor in the 21-month sentence handed down by the three-member misdemeanours court on Tuesday . “It would have been much, much longer but they accepted his good behaviour [prior to the incident],” he added.

Under Greek law, an appeal would mean the case starting afresh, opening up the possibility of some charges being dropped if Maguire and his co-defendants were to apologise.

“An appeal is the equivalent of a retrial in a higher court before new judges who could change the [lower court’s] decision,” the lawyer said. “My clients, the policemen, would be ready to accept an apology. That is what they have wanted all along. One of them was thrown to the ground and in great pain afterwards,” he said adding that when called to break up the brawl they had “no idea” who Maguire was.

“They didn’t recognise him. For them they were simply British tourists who in this case went on to to use their status and wealth to try and get out of the situation.”

Part of Maguire’s defence was that his sister Daisy had been injected with an unknown substance before the incident. Maguire’s lawyer, Alexis Anagnostakis, said that his clients – Harry Maguire, the player’s older brother Joe and Christopher Sharman– had acted in self-defence and did not realise that the non-uniformed men were police officers.

Laurence Maguire, in apparent response to a claim by Paradissis in a BBC interview that Maguire’s sister had not told police she had been injected, added: “Daisy and no one in the group was interviewed by the police.”

The officers, although in plain clothes – Mykonos has been at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak that has seen the Greek government send in undercover police to ensure health protocols are adhered to – had shown their ID cards when they approached the melee, Paradissis said.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-says-police-officers-lawyer?CMP=share_btn_tw
 
Harry Maguire's lack of apology following his trial in Greece is "shocking" and "unsportsmanlike", says one of the prosecution lawyers.

On Tuesday, the Manchester United captain was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult following his arrest on the island of Mykonos last week.

He was sentenced to 21 months, 10 days in prison, suspended for three years.

Maguire, 27, has appealed the verdict.

United say the appeal means the defender's original conviction is "nullified" and a more senior court will now consider the case.

But lawyer Dr Ioannis Paradissis said there was still time "to say sorry".

England defender Maguire was arrested along with brother Joe, 28, and family friend Christopher Sharman, 29, on Thursday after an altercation with police. Both Joe Maguire and Sharman were sentenced to 13 months in prison, also suspended for three years.

All three men denied all charges.

Dr Paradissis, who represented two of the six Greek police officers involved in the case, told the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4: "The appeal process in Greece is a retrial. So obviously there is still time for the three defendants to say they are sorry and then I believe that the outcome might be different.

"It would be different because under Greek law you can withdraw some accusations - non-aggravated bodily harm and the verbal assaults that were shouted at the policeman.

"I don't know if my clients would accept that but they told me they are still waiting for an apology and they haven't heard any and this is what I find quite shocking and quite unsportsmanlike, because fair play means when I've done something wrong, I apologise."

Maguire said after Tuesday's verdict he had instructed his legal team "with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing".

"I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter - if anything myself, family and friends are the victims," he added.

Leading sports lawyer Dr Gregory Ioannidis has told BBC Sport it could take up to a year before any hearing and the case will likely go to the Piraeus Court of Appeal. He added it could be delayed even further if there are requests for further adjournments.

Dr Paradissis added: "I'm representing some policemen that have been hit, they have injuries and the three defendants say they are not guilty but on the other side they don't explain how these injuries were made.

"We don't have the same definition of what a victim is then because how can you be a victim and the policeman that have been assaulted, hit, that were just doing their job, they went home with injuries - how can they not be a victim?"

Maguire's lawyer Alexis Anagnostakis - one of Greece's top human rights lawyers - told the court the events stemmed from Maguire's sister Daisy being injected with a substance by a group of Albanians and she immediately fainted.

The defendants called for transport and asked to be driven to a hospital, but were instead taken to a police station.

The prosecution said Maguire, his brother and friend then physically and verbally attacked police officers.

"Obviously that [Maguire's sister being injected] is irrelevant concerning the assault committed against the police officers," said Dr Paradissis.

"And in any case what is strange about this case about the sister is that the sister was interviewed by police and she said nothing about that to the police. This is a new line of defence that we heard recently."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53920365
 
Harry Maguire: I feared for my life during arrest in Greece

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire said he feared for his life when Greek police arrested him last week as he thought he was being kidnapped.

The England international told BBC sports editor Dan Roan that plain-clothed police officers, who did not identify themselves, pulled over his group's minibus in Mykonos, threw him off the bus, hit him on his legs and told him his career was over.

The 27-year-old said he tried to run away - with one handcuff on - because he had no idea who the men were.

On Tuesday, Maguire was given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in prison after his trial on the Greek island of Syros.

He was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after arrest on Mykonos.

On Wednesday, his legal team lodged an appeal against the verdict. In accordance with Greek law, the appeal nullifies Maguire's conviction and there will be a full retrial in a more senior court.

An emotional Maguire, who broke down during the interview, said hearing the guilty verdict was "horrible" and that he "couldn't quite believe it".

The centre-back, who denies throwing any punches or trying to bribe the police, added: "I don't feel I owe an apology to anybody.

"An apology is something when you have done something wrong."

He said: "I don't wish it on anybody. Obviously the situation has made it difficult for one of the biggest clubs in the world, so I regret putting the fans and the club through this, but I did nothing wrong.

"I found myself in a situation where it could have happened to anybody and anywhere."

Asked how badly he was hurt, Maguire said: "They hit me a lot on the legs. It wasn't on my mind. I was in that much of a panic. Fear. Scared for my life."

Maguire said his family are suffering more than him and that his "conscience is clear".

"I know what happened that night. I know the truth," he added.

"When I speak about it I get worked up but that's because it just makes me feel a bit angry inside. I will move on. I am mentally strong enough."

Maguire - an £80m signing from Leicester City in 2019 - was named United's permanent captain in January after the departure of Ashley Young to Inter Milan, and he is likely to remain skipper this season.

"It is such a huge honour to be captain of Manchester United - something I am really proud of," he said. "It is a massive privilege to play for the club, never mind captain.

"It is not my decision to make but the one thing I will say is how supportive the club has been from top to bottom. They have been great with me and I thank them for that."

On Tuesday, Maguire was withdrawn from the England squad for September's Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark.

He said: "I love playing for my country. Physically and mentally I am ready to play. I'm disappointed but of course I understand."

How Maguire says the night unfolded

Maguire was on holiday with his fiancee Fern, his younger sister Daisy, his brother and his brother's girlfriend, and two friends and their girlfriends.

They were out for drinks in Mykonos and texted their minibus driver to pick them up to take them home.

The driver was "20 minutes late" and Maguire said the group were tired and planning to head back to the villa.

Two men approached Daisy and asked her where she was from before Fern saw "my little sister's eyes rolling to the back of her head.

She ran over, she was fainting, in an out of consciousness."

At this point Maguire said "everyone was shouting and were screaming", when three Greek men dressed in plain clothes got involved.

Maguire said they were not trying to "cause an argument or a scuffle", but "it was just a lot of shouting, a lot of commotion. No fighting, as has been reported. No punches thrown."

Maguire said the Greek men were just trying to calm it down but they were "a little bit aggressive".

The minibus arrived. Maguire said they got Daisy on the bus and "literally that was it - it wasn't what everyone's made it out to be. Don't get me wrong - there was a lot of shouting, a big panic, but no fighting or anything."

They told the driver to take them back to the villa and planned to go to the hospital, but Daisy recovered "pretty quickly".

The bus drove for "5-10 minutes" and stopped and parked up alongside this road. "We looked outside and there were eight men surrounding the bus, all in plain clothes."

The doors were opened and Maguire and a friend were "thrown off the bus".

Maguire said the men did not say anything to them. It was at this point that Maguire thought they were being kidnapped.

Maguire and his friend ran to the main road, from where he rang his agent to ask for help, leaving messages on a group WhatsApp.

Maguire said when he turned to walk back to the bus, he and his friend had been circled by the men, who started walking towards them.

Maguire said: "We got down on our knees, put our hands in the air. And they just started hitting us. They got one of my hands in the handcuff. They were hitting my legs, saying my career's over - 'no more football; you won't play again'. "At this point I thought there's no chance these are police. I've no idea who they are. So I tried to run away. I had one hand in the handcuff - I was moving my hand. This is where the charges have come from - this is what they are saying is resisting arrest and this is what the assault is - no punches have been thrown. I didn't believe they were the police."
Greek police dispute this version of events and in court the prosecution said Maguire, his brother and friend then physically and verbally attacked police officers.

Maguire said he was taken into the police station and was put in a cell. "That was the time I felt a little bit of relief, as crazy as that sounds. There were other people in the cell telling me to calm down and it felt like relief because that was the first time I actually believed I was in prison."

More from Maguire's interview with Dan Roan

The trial

It was horrible. It was such a quick turnaround it was incredible. We got the pages for the transcript for the court on the evening before. A big document, all in Greek. I hardly had any chance to speak to my lawyer. We were confident the case would be adjourned, to give us more time to prepare and get the witnesses and the evidence that we have.

For it to all happen so quickly... we obviously didn't expect the trial to go ahead.

The court heard that you abused the police. Is that true?

From their statement I am pretty sure they said I hurt a policeman's back and arm. I had the hand in the air, handcuffed, when I tried running away, I didn't realise they were police at the time and thought I was getting kidnapped. I don't think I hurt him. Put it this way: I didn't hurt him as much as they hurt me.

The court heard you tried to bribe the police, that you said 'do you know who I am'. Did you?

No, for sure. 'Do you know who I am?' I knew they knew who I was. Five minutes before they were beating me up saying my career is over, so I knew they knew who I was. As soon as I saw that statement... just ridiculous.

There was definitely no bribe involved. At that moment we were sat in the entrance of the prison, we were so distraught, we were crying. We still didn't believe where we were.

What do you put it down to - their actions?

A lot of things have gone through my mind but the answer is I don't know. I can't pinpoint what or why. Whether, like you say, it was jealously, stitched up, misunderstanding, I really don't know.

You have appealed. How confident are you that you will eventually clear your name?

I have great faith in the Greek law. The retrial rule will give us more time to prepare, gather the evidence, allow witnesses into the court, and I am really confident the truth will be told and come out.

You are a high-profile guy. There are plenty of places you can go. Do you accept you were in a way asking for trouble being in that place that night?

No. I think it could have happened anywhere. I love Greece; I love the people there. I have been to six, seven, eight Greek islands. I go most years on my time off. Me and my family love Greece. I don't feel like I would have done anything different in terms of regret going to Mykonos. I have been before and had a great time.

I think us footballers get a bit of stick for trying to stay away from everything and the public eye. It's not how I want to live my life. I've always been really open. I was away with my family in couples. If someone wanted a picture, they could have a picture or something signed. It's probably changed my mind on that.

Were you worse for wear? Were you drunk? Was that a factor in all this?

I'm not going to sit here and say I didn't have a drink all day. I had a few drinks. Anyone who knows me who has been out with me knows how I am after I have a few drinks. I am always aware; I always stay in control. I definitely wasn't drunk. I knew what was going off. I just found myself in a bad situation.

How much harm have you done to your reputation and do you regret that?

It's not nice seeing bad reports against yourself. No-one knew what went off that night. Either you believe it or you don't. Even after the court case still the stories coming out of the court case are so far away from the truth it is incredible. So, no, my character and personality will stay the same. I am strong mentally and I will get over this.

My conscience is clear. I know exactly what happened that night.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53941208
 
Gary Neville: Harry Maguire incident may bring about greater Man Utd unity

Gary Neville has offered his assessment of Harry Maguire's incident in Mykonos, claiming the valuable lesson for the Manchester United captain could strengthen the sense of unity in the dressing room at Old Trafford.

Maguire revealed on Thursday he feared for his life and thought he was being kidnapped during his arrest by plain-clothes police officers on the Greek island last week.

The England international was convicted of assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery and handed a 21-month suspended prison sentence, but the conviction has since been nullified and a retrial granted, according to United, after Maguire appealed the guilty verdict.

Former United captain Neville said Maguire has to ensure a similar incident does not occur in the future, but dismissed the idea it could cause a divide among his club team-mates.

"Over many years I witnessed incidents, ones which I was involved in, at Christmas parties and the like where people make mistakes and do things that let other people down," Neville told Sky Sports News.

"You have to own up to those things and stand up to them because there is nothing you can do about it.

"Harry doesn't feel like he did a lot wrong this week, he felt like he was exposed, but in moments like this you have to ask yourself if you, or the people around you, did everything possible to get away from it and whether you would put yourself in the situation again in the future.

"The only thing Harry can do is make sure it doesn't happen again.

"I always take myself back to being sat in the dressing room where either myself, my colleagues or team-mates made a mistake. Would we stand by each other and stick up for each other? We absolutely would, 100 per cent.

"Those Manchester United players in the dressing room and the club will stand by Harry Maguire, and myself as a fan in the media will not judge him in any way, shape or form because of the reality is that these things happen in life.

"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will think this situation is part and parcel of managing a football club and managing characters and personalities in situations that occur.

"I don't think he will see it as an issue that would drive a wedge between him and his team, I would say it could potentially increase the bond and the spirit that exists."

Read more: https://www.skysports.com/football/...ncident-may-bring-about-greater-man-utd-unity
 
Greek lawyer in Harry Maguire case reveals details of hate mail he received

The fallout from Harry’s Maguire’s calamitous holiday in Mykonos has been swift, brutal and revelatory, not least for the Manchester United captain.

Yet for Ioannis Paradissis, the Greek prosecution lawyer at the centre of the case following the footballer’s arrest after a late-night brawl on the isle, the drama is far from over.

Paradissis has received hate mail from furious fans and been blamed, increasingly, for Maguire’s brush with justice culminating in the 27-year-old’s shock conviction last week on four charges including aggravated and verbal assault.

“When I got the first emails I couldn’t quite believe it,” says the soft-spoken lawyer, who spent several years as a lecturer at Surrey University before returning to Greece. “It caught me off guard.”

At first the messages were short and expletive-ridden. But from two-word “**** you” missives they have become ever more menacing, threatening to destroy the Greek economy and accusing Paradissis, and the police, of casting “shame on the reputation of all courts in Greece” and putting the nation’s tourist industry at risk.

“We all know … you are a disgusting country full of disgusting people,” read one email that landed in his inbox on Friday. “It is clear to many observers that this was a staged effort to punish a well-known footballer from a foreign country just for the sake of bitterness, jealously or simply bigoted hatred,” read another. “Well done! There goes your economy. Your people are going to thank you BIG time,” read another still.

“I’ve had messages saying I will soon be without a job and others accusing us all of corruption. It’s almost as if the entire justice system, and Greece itself, have been put on trial,” he said from Syros, the Aegean isle where Maguire’s hearing in absentia was held on Tuesday. “It’s been taken out of all proportion. Honestly, I’m scared.”

In an unprecedented step the Syros Bar Association issued a statement condemning the “deluge” of hate mail.

The £190,000-a-week player, in addition to assault, was found guilty of resisting arrest and attempted bribery of a policemen. The three-member misdemeanours court, which convened on Syros, the administrative centre of the Cyclades island group to which Mykonos belongs, sentenced the centre back to 21 months in prison suspended on account of his clean criminal record. His two co-defendants, who included his brother Joe, received 13-month sentences also suspended.

The verdict was appealed on behalf of the trio by Maguire’s defence team the next day.

“It’s quite rare in the Greek legal system for a court to find a defendant guilty on every count,” said Konstantinos Gogos, a prominent criminal lawyer in Athens. “If a celebrity is involved judges might be even more sensitive. I can only conclude that the evidence must have been indisputable.”

Paradissis represented three policemen among the six key prosecution witnesses at the trial. All three alleged violence on the part of the two brothers and their friend, Christopher Sharman, when they attempted to break up the brawl in Mykonos town on 20 August.

One officer described as a ranking lieutenant testified he had suffered injuries after being kicked by the footballer in both legs. Joe Maguire was accused of punching the same officer in the face, according to the charge sheet, with other violence allegedly also taking place at the police station where the trio were subsequently detained.

Maguire’s lawyers are expected to be notified of the appeals hearing by December, although a trial is unlikely to take place for at least a year in a system that moves notoriously slowly at the appellate level. Under Greek law an appeals court, presided over by new judges, will essentially retry a case opening the prospect of a conviction being dropped altogether.

Paradissis began receiving the hate mail after he suggested that an apology from the footballer might change “the prevailing sentiment” ahead of the case being brought before a higher court.

Maguire, who spoke of being “scared for my life”, has resolutely refused to say sorry. Recounting the incident publicly for the first time, he told the BBC he believed he was being kidnapped when plain-clothes policemen surrounded the rented minibus his holiday group had boarded after the fracas thinking they were being driven back to their £21,000-a-night villa on the party isle.

“I don’t feel I owe an apology to anybody,” he said. He claimed the commotion began after “two men approached my little sister” allegedly injecting her with a substance that resulted in her fainting and her “eyes rolling to the back of her head”. “An apology is something when you have done something wrong,” he told the interviewer.

Much of the fury directed at Paradissis has been fuelled by the perception that Maguire did not receive a fair trial. Lodging the appeal, his lawyer argued the court had failed to give him adequate time to prepare the defence.

But standing his ground, the lawyer explained in Greek criminal procedure, a trial can happen “very quickly” if a defendant is deemed to be “caught red-handed”, arrested within 48 hours of the alleged offence and indicted.

“Maguire’s defence team asked for a 48-hour adjournment and they got it,” said Paradissis. “So, it’s just not true that his legal team wasn’t given enough time. Nor is it factually correct to say, as United now claims, that the conviction has been quashed because of the appeal. It has simply been suspended until the higher court hears the case. Maguire remains a convicted man in the eyes of Greek law.”

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...case-reveals-details-of-hate-mail-he-received
 
Harry Maguire: Manchester United give captain extra time off

Harry Maguire will be given extra time off by Manchester United following his arrest and subsequent court case in Greece this month.

Those members of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad not on international duty are expected back at Carrington for pre-season training from Wednesday.

But it's understood the United captain might not link up with his team-mates until the weekend at the earliest.

That would give Maguire two weeks of training before the opening game of the season against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday, September 19, live on Sky Sports Premier League.

United and Manchester City have both been given an extra week by the Premier League due to their involvement in the latter stages of the Europa League and Champions League respectively.

Maguire had been due to meet up with the England squad at the weekend ahead of the Nations League ties against Iceland and Denmark, but was dropped from the squad by Gareth Southgate.

Maguire's legal term successfully appealed the 21-month suspended prison sentence originally handed down by the court, a full re-trial will be held at a later date although may have to wait up to two years before his appeal is heard due to a backlog of legal cases in Greece.

Read more: https://www.skysports.com/football/...manchester-united-give-captain-extra-time-off
 
Harry Maguire: England boss Gareth Southgate open to defender's return

England manager Gareth Southgate says he will "absolutely be looking" to recall Harry Maguire in October.

The Manchester United captain, 27, was withdrawn from the squad last month after being given a suspended prison sentence on the Greek island of Syros.

He was found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery.

Maguire, who maintains his innocence, has appealed against the decision and told the BBC his "conscience is clear".

Southgate says he has been in touch with Maguire "right the way through the last two and a half weeks".

England get their Nations League campaign under way against Iceland and Denmark this month, before resuming their campaign against Belgium in October.

"It's clearly been a really difficult period for him and I think the last few days have been very important for him to relax, get away from all the attention and get a rest," Southgate said on Friday.

"We will absolutely look to get him involved in October."

Read more:

'That has been complicated'

Despite the "complicated" build-up given the coronavirus health and safety measures, Southgate says it is "great to be back".

"The preparation and planning for the camp - when we weren't sure of the injuries in pre-season, how far teams would go in Europe and the virus situation - that's been complicated, for sure," he said.

"But since we've been in camp and on the training pitch, the players have adjusted and adapted. We've got a lot of senior players who are used to training the way we train, playing the way we play.

"They're a great influence and welcoming to the lesser experienced ones coming in, but also the young ones coming in have no fear.

"They've adapted quickly and added to the level of training and competition, so we've really enjoyed the week."

Saturday's game with Iceland will be England's first since winning 4-0 in Kosovo last November, but Southgate says his side will not be "starting from scratch."

He added: "Experience is important. You've got to balance leadership and international experience with with youth and energy.

"It's helpful to have those experienced guys in there when young players are coming in. But of course you've got to look at how people are on the training pitch and whether they're up to speed."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54029275
 
Harry Maguire suffered a shambolic 31 minutes before he put himself out of his own misery as England lost to Denmark at Wembley - his premature departure prompting the question of whether he now needs a longer break from the game.

Manchester United's 27-year-old captain cut a distracted and chaotic figure as he endured a personal nightmare, its conclusion with a red card carrying an air of inevitability from the moment he recklessly launched himself at Yussuf Poulsen to pick up an early yellow.

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It was the start of a performance that was almost painful to watch, bad positioning, a suggestion of an injury and then amateurish control that led to the desperate lunge on Kasper Dolberg that not only injured the striker but sent Maguire down the tunnel.

Maguire looked totally devoid of confidence, a lost soul and an accident waiting to happen, which it eventually did.

Maguire sent off as England lose to Denmark at WembleyMaguire has my full support, says SouthgateWho would you pick in England's best XI?Misery for Maguire and England at Wembley - listen to Football Daily podcast

It comes at the end of a period that looks to have taken its toll on Maguire and, sadly, leaves him looking like a defensive liability for club and country.

Maguire's troubles started in August when he was given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in prison after he was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after a trial on the Greek island of Syros.

He maintains his innocence and has lodged an appeal - which means a retrial and the conviction being set aside in the meantime - but it feels and looks like the weight of this incident and its public aftermath has carried over into the new season, as this normally exuberant, combative character, who revelled in his 'man of the people' persona at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, looks troubled.

Maguire was always extravagantly priced at £80m but a player who is a solid and serviceable Premier League defender and has become one of England manager Gareth Southgate's most trusted squad members now looks hopelessly out of form.

He has cut a struggling figure as United's defence has been run ragged by Crystal Palace, Brighton and of course Tottenham in that 6-1 humiliation at Old Trafford.

And when referee Jesus Gil Manzano showed him the red card, Maguire resembled an individual who had hit rock bottom.

England's men have received three red cards in a single calendar year for the first time ever

This was a performance from Maguire that was sending out distress signals from pretty much the first whistle. The control was poor, the discipline was worse, even the simplest of tasks - a pass, a clearance - looked an almighty struggle.

Maguire's display, in a footballing context, must be criticised, but it is clear his fragile form and what seems a confused mental approach to the game will need careful handling, not just by Southgate but more importantly by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United.

The defender looks like someone who might benefit from some time on the sidelines to gather his thoughts, clear his head and get back to something like the player and personality who had enough impact at Old Trafford after his move from Leicester to be awarded the captain's armband.

It is a difficult balancing act because Maguire might not wish to be taken out of the line of fire and such are United's current struggles that Solskjaer may feel he needs his leader going in to battle for him.

What is clear is that he will now need more of the sympathy and support Solskjaer and United have given him so far.

Maguire's red card was a low point on a very indifferent night for England - the first time they have had two players sent off, with Reece James dismissed for dissent after the final whistle.

It was characterised by another ultra-conservative team selection by Southgate based around three men at the back and Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips holding in midfield.

We are revisiting an old argument here, one had when a similarly cautious England played out a dire goalless draw in Copenhagen in early September.

England's approach is understandable up to a point against the likes of Belgium but what threats do Denmark possess that require such a defensive mentality and approach?

As the game went on, Southgate still seemed very reluctant to release the handbrake, even taking the fact England were down to 10 men into account.

Denmark now sit above England in group A2 on goal difference

England probed towards the end in the face of Denmark's resilience but were doing it with Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, having come off the bench, on the left flank and Jordan Henderson the chosen replacement for Declan Rice late on.

Supporters of Aston Villa's Jack Grealish had real cause for complaint here as a player who showed against Wales that he has rare creative talent remained in his seat on the bench.

Calvert-Lewin is having a magnificent season as a goalscorer but in this situation he is not the man to pick a pass to unlock the Danes - he should be the man on the end of them.

Southgate will have his reasons for not using Grealish, but to those of us watching there seemed no obvious explanation for keeping him back as others went on.

It was a night of many questions for England and Southgate. There will need to be a braver approach than this when it comes to the real business end of a major tournament.

And, for Maguire, it was a desperate experience he will want to forget in a hurry.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54549087
 
Harry Maguire: Manchester United defender will bounce back from England red card, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire will "bounce back" from his recent poor spell of form and England red card, says manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The centre-back, 27, was sent off against Denmark on Wednesday, capping a troublesome couple of months following his arrest in Greece during pre-season.

He could miss Saturday's Premier League game at Newcastle after Solskjaer said he picked up a knock against Denmark.

"Harry's got great resilience. I know he'll bounce back," said Solskjaer.

"I know that he wants to play, he wants to just work his way out of the last couple of games that he's been criticised [for].

"He picked up a knock just before he came off, so I'm just hopeful he'll be fit. We've had a look at him yesterday and give him a test again today."

He added: "When Harry is part of the England team that beats number-one ranked Belgium, that's just a normal day, and then you get the headlines when you get the sending off. That's just football for you.

"There's so many ups and downs that we have got to deal with it, individually and as a group."

Solskjaer also said he will not allow the club's critics to create division at the Old Trafford club.

United fell to a 6-1 home defeat by Tottenham in their last game before the international break. Since then stories have emerged about a potential attempt to lure Mauricio Pochettino to the club as manager, as well as claims of a fall-out between Solskjaer and key midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Fernandes has rejected these claims and Solskjaer feels it is part of a wider attempt to undermine the club.

"It's one of those things that you have to get over as soon as you can and move on," Solskjaer said. "We know any little chance from outside... you want to create a division.

"I think Bruno spoke really well the other day about how we are united, we have to stay together. We can't listen to everyone outside. We've got to just get on with it.

"Bruno's now lost two league games since he came to the club and he came in February, but it's been two in quick succession.

"So, he's not used to losing league games for us but now, Bruno, welcome to Manchester United - this is what happens when you lost a couple, they're going to try to create a division between us.

"But that's not going to happen because this group is a group that wants to work hard together, stick together."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54568344
 
I don’t think he was ever an elite elite ball playing central defender on the mound of Ferdinand or Van Dijk but his recent downtown is worrying
 
PetroDollars said:
:)))

Hes better than what vvd was when at southampton, so from here he can only go up.
Click to expand...

My my my :)))

Even Ben White is a better player than him, let alone comparing him to Van Dijk.

Maguire has zero mobility, agility, passing range and talent on the ball. The only thing he had in his locker was good tackling and game reading but even that has gone to the dogs.

He is not worth £18m at the moment, let alone £80m.
 
Maguire seems to play much better for England than United.
 
Mamoon said:
My my my :)))

Even Ben White is a better player than him, let alone comparing him to Van Dijk.

Maguire has zero mobility, agility, passing range and talent on the ball. The only thing he had in his locker was good tackling and game reading but even that has gone to the dogs.

He is not worth £18m at the moment, let alone £80m.
Click to expand...
Or 1.8
 
He has been very poor so far this season (in a United shirt at least). He was never captaincy material as he shows zero leadership on the pitch. Whoever comes in as the next manager will hopefully see the light and strip him of the captaincy. Him throwing the armband on the ground is completely disrespectful.

He always looks so much better when playing with a good quicker CB like Varane. Lindelof and himself are a nightmare partnership.
 
He performed slightly better than his usual donkey mode last night. Slightly.
 
James said:
He performed slightly better than his usual donkey mode last night. Slightly.
Click to expand...

He was average at best yesterday, but that does mean that he was better than his prior performances which were a joke. I personally would have stuck with Bailly in the side as he played well vs Chelsea. We desperately need Varane back asap.
 
Harry Maguire: Ralf Rangnick sees no reason to strip defender of Man Utd captaincy despite 'weaker moments'

Ralf Rangnick insists there is no need to strip Harry Maguire of the Manchester United captaincy despite admitting he has seen "some weaker moments" from the defender in recent matches.

Maguire has come under scrutiny for several below-par performances this season and a section of United supporters have suggested the armband should be taken away from him.

Criticism of the 28-year-old intensified over the weekend as United surrendered a 1-0 lead for the third game in a row to draw 1-1 against Southampton at Old Trafford, but interim manager Rangnick sees no reason to change his official leader on the pitch.

"I think when he came back after his injury he did extremely well. He had a very good performance, a very good game against West Ham," Rangnick said.

"In the past two games, yeah he had some weaker moments, against Southampton and when we conceded the goal at Burnley, but he's our captain and I don't see any reason to change that."

Maguire was named United captain in January 2020 by previous boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, five months after he moved to Old Trafford in a world-record £80m transfer from Leicester.

He has already made 132 appearances for the club and Rangnick says it will take time for the England international to adjust to a new way of playing.

He added: "He's a player who has to develop, get better, like all the other players.

"The way that we are playing now is new also to him because in the English national team he was used to playing in a back three and here at Manchester United, in most cases a back four, but still not being as proactive, not with that kind of rest defence always being on the front foot when we are trying to defend.

"This is something also new to him and it will also take some time for him to get used to that, to get adjusted to that."

https://www.skysports.com/football/...r-of-man-utd-captaincy-despite-weaker-moments
 
Man City 4-1 Man Utd

<b>Maguire sums up Man Utd misery</b>

This was a miserable and chastening 90 minutes for Manchester United and few of their players suffered more than captain Maguire.

Maguire was out of position for City's first goal, inexplicably let the ball go in a goalmouth scramble for De Bruyne's second, and he then deflected Mahrez's effort past De Gea for the third.

He was also booked for a crude, desperate tackle on De Bruyne and looked a like a player whose confidence was non-existent.
 
He was towering for England in the Euros, who barely conceded a goal with Harry Maguire at the centre of their defence.

But this has not been his best season for Manchester United at all.
 
He was all over the place against Man City.

Not much support from his team-mates but you'd expect someone like Maguire to lift his team, instead he looked lost.
 
Captain Harry just put a rather embarrassing own goal through the Manchester United net against Spurs.
 
£80m for Harry Maguire has to go down as one of the most ridiculous deals ever. That's coming from a fan of the team that bought Nicolas Pepe for £72m. At least he has not cost us as many points as Maguire has United. :shappy
 
Firebat said:
£80m for Harry Maguire has to go down as one of the most ridiculous deals ever. That's coming from a fan of the team that bought Nicolas Pepe for £72m. At least he has not cost us as many points as Maguire has United. :shappy
Click to expand...

Pepe doesnt bring anything to the team,
Maguire is a ball progressor rather then a defender and is still one of the best defender ball progressors in the world, this is why he looks so bad when the team is out of form but looks excellent when his team is on form, he can only play in a possession based team, that moves the ball from back to front and this is why he bosses it with england. Put him in MC, and you will see a different player, put pepe in any team and you will find the same player.
 
PetroDollars said:
Pepe doesnt bring anything to the team,
Maguire is a ball progressor rather then a defender and is still one of the best defender ball progressors in the world, this is why he looks so bad when the team is out of form but looks excellent when his team is on form, he can only play in a possession based team, that moves the ball from back to front and this is why he bosses it with england. Put him in MC, and you will see a different player, put pepe in any team and you will find the same player.
Click to expand...

Lol are you serious! Maguire makes basic errors, the only reason he does well for England is playing in a back three which also has two defensive midfielders in front and the team plays in a low block lol.
 
Manunited18 said:
Lol are you serious! Maguire makes basic errors, the only reason he does well for England is playing in a back three which also has two defensive midfielders in front and the team plays in a low block lol.
Click to expand...

basic errors are only in tackling and defending, which have always been there, but his strength is in progressing the ball forward,
 
PetroDollars said:
basic errors are only in tackling and defending, which have always been there, but his strength is in progressing the ball forward,
Click to expand...

Lol, he's a liability. There's no way he's a elite level defender, infact there's a common agreement at old Trafford amongst the fans that Maguire is the worse defender we've ever had.
 
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