Harry Maguire 'extremely disappointed' after being stripped of Man United captaincy

Harry Maguire admitted he was “extremely disappointed” after being stripped of captaincy by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

The England centre-half remained club captain last season despite spending much of the campaign out of the United starting XI with Bruno Fernandes usually taking over the armband. The Portugal midfielder is expected to be given the role on a permanent basis.

Maguire – who started just eight Premier League games last season as United finished third in the table while also winning the League Cup – has been linked with a move to West Ham United.

The Hammers, who have just sold Maguire's England teammate Declan Rice to Arsenal in a record £105 million deal, have money to spend and are thought to be keen on the 30-year-old defender.

Ten Hag has always maintained any decision will effectively rest with the player, who is contracted to until the summer of 2025.

But now the Dutch coach has decided the time is right to take the captaincy off a player who joined the club for £80 million from Leicester City in 2019.

“After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain,” Maguire said in a statement on social media. “He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.

After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt. So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the… pic.twitter.com/TAOS0eisF1

“So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the Manchester United fans for all their brilliant support whilst I’ve been wearing