England International Harry Maguire has been confirmed as Man Utd’s new permanent captain as goalkeeper David de Gea is snubbed.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to select a new skipper with previous club captain Ashley Young set to depart for Inter Milan this month.
De Gea was one of the candidates for the role, after Young stormed out of United training; but Solskjaer has opted to hand the armband to summer signing Maguire.
Both players have captained United this season in Youg’s absence, as well as Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.
But Maguire has impressed Solskjaer in the role since his arrival at Old Trafford and will now take on the duties full-time.
Solskjaer said: “Harry is wearing the captain’s armband and will keep wearing it, he’s been a leader in the group, I’ve been, not surprised, but impressed by his leadership skills, so he will continue wearing the armband.
“He’s come in and everything about him tells me he’s a leader. He’s part of a group that we’ve had that have been leading this young group, Ashley has been, David, Marcus, Harry, so Harry will keep on wearing the armband.”
It comes as a blow to de Gea, who previously expressed his desire to captain the Red Devils.
“I’ve been captain for some games,” De Gea said in July. “Of course, it is amazing to be captain of a club like Manchester United and defend this badge. It’s amazing, so of course I’ll be really, really happy to captain.”
United’s decision to award de Gea a new bumper long-term contract was seen as a show of faith to the Spaniard, and suggested he may be given the responsibility.
Solskjaer’s comments earlier in the campaign also hinted that de Gea would take up the role once Young’s United career was over, and Maguire was seen as a future option.
“Harry is captain material, so is David,” Solskjaer told the press in November. “David’s been here and done it many, many times, but Harry’s come in and been excellent in the dressing room and on the pitch and that was [the] decision.
“But he [Maguire] can become long-term one.”
Maguire will take charge of captain’s responsibilities immediately, with Young expected to leave United within the next week.
United have agreed a £1.3million fee with Inter Milan for Young’s services, who turned down a one-year contract extension in order to move to the Serie A giants.
(Mirrir.co.uk)
