Harry Maguire Removed As Manchester United Captain, Embattled Star Releases Statement

• Harry Maguire has announced he will no longer be Manchester United's captain
• Maguire has revealed the decision was arrived at by Erik ten Hag
• Bruno Fernandes is now the likely candidate to take over

Harry Maguire had been stripped of the Manchester United captaincy as Erik ten Hag looks to shore up things ahead of next season.

Maguire confirmed the developments via a message on social media a couple of hours after he returned for preseason duty.

Rumours have been swirling in recent times over a prospective change of guard. The England international hardly played under ten Hag last season, with Bruno Fernandes stepping in as the captain.

Maguire admitted that he was disappointed by ten Hag's decision, but he promised to stand by it.

"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.

Maguire trains thrice in a day as he seeks to convince ten Hag amid uncertain future

Football

He nonetheless thanked the fans for the support he has received since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made him captain.

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

I will always be grateful to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for first giving me the responsibility and I wish whoever now takes it on every success and they will have my full support.

The 30-year fell down the pecking order after the arrival of Lisandro Martinez last summer. Ten Hag's go-to partnership at the back was the Argentine and Raphael Varane. In instances where one of the two wasn't available, Victor Lindelof was called upon with Luke Shaw at one point playing as a centre-back despite Maguire's availability.

Who could replace Maguire?

After his move from Leicester City, an initial show of good performances earned him captaincy after just six months under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but he has now been stripped of the captaincy, as he confirmed on Twitter.

Sports Brief looks at five stars who could replace him as captain if the eventualities happen.