Manchester United told to strip Harry Maguire of captaincy and hand David de Gea the armband

Former defender Paul Parker believes Harry Maguire should be stripped of the Manchester United captaincy and it should be awarded to goalkeeper David de Gea instead.

Maguire, who joined United from Leicester City in August 2019, has found himself under increasing pressure from a growing number of supporters in recent weeks following a difficult 2021/22 campaign.

After playing a key role in England's run to the final of the European Championship last summer, the centre-back, who turns 29 next month, has struggled to live up to his usual high standards, sparking constant questions about his future at Old Trafford.

His below-par performances have also carried calls for him to have the captain's armband taken away from him, despite United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, on more than one occasion, confirming that the England ace will retain the armband.

However, former Reds defender Parker believes Maguire should have the armband taken off of him and it should be passed to De Gea.

"I don't think Harry Maguire should be captain of Manchester United," Parker told BetfredTV. "I think he's got too much going on in his own game to worry about rather than trying to lead a team which he'd only just joined and in a few seconds gets the captaincy.

"I think that was more off of his price tag rather than the side of him as a person, as a leader of men. And at the moment I think the one who should be captain is the one they all respect, David De Gea.

"Because to be a captain you have to respect a player. David De Gea has to be the most respected player in that Manchester United team because he's the one who has actually kept them in the position to be fourth in the league at this moment in time."

As well as calling for Maguire, who