[마이데일리 = 최병진 기자] British media predicted that Harry Maguire (29) would leave if Manchester United’s Kim Min-jae (26, Naples) was recruited.
Maguire wore a Manchester United uniform in 2019 for the highest transfer fee ever for a defender of £80 million (approximately 122 billion won). Maguire tried to establish himself as the center of the team while taking on the captaincy. However, his sluggishness began last season. Maguire was criticized by fans for repeating his mistake.
From this season, when manager Eric Ten Hag took over, he eventually gave up his starting position. Manchester United have signed Ten Hag’s pupil Lisandro Martinez for £55m (approximately 84.4 billion won). Martinez formed the central defense with Rafael Varane and Maguire headed to the bench.
Maguire, who had been sluggish, revived through the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Maguire played well as England’s main defender. Although England were knocked out in the quarter-finals, Maguire returned to his former form and manager Ten Haag expressed satisfaction.
However, even after returning to Manchester United, Maguire still failed to make the starting list. In the first game of the second half restart, against Nottingham and Wolverhampton, coach Ten Haag built the central defense with Luke Shaw and Baran. With Martinez still unable to play after winning the World Cup, coach Ten Haag’s choice was fullback Shaw, not Maguire.
The reason why Maguire’s position can be further reduced is because of the rumor about Kim Min-jae’s recruitment. Coach Ten Hag wants to strengthen the defense and has chosen Kim Min-jae, who is playing a big role in Napoli, as his target. Manchester United is determined to invest 50 million euros (about 70 billion won), a buyout, in the next summer transfer window.
In the end, if Kim Min-jae wears a Manchester United uniform, it seems that Maguire will leave the team. British ‘Mirror’ said on the 1st, “Maguire seemed to have regained his best form in the World Cup. Nevertheless, if Kim Min-jae is recruited, Maguire will not be selected,” he said, conveying the possibility of a transfer.
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Reporter Choi Byung-jin cbj0929@mydaily.co.kr
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