For those on the inside at Manchester United, it was always a question of when – not if – Harry Maguire would sign a new deal at the club.
Confirmation of Maguire's one-year contract extension, which arrived this week, came as no surprise to those who see and work with the 33-year-old England defender on a daily basis.
Despite his seven-year United career being blighted by high-profile errors, the loss of the captaincy and appalling abuse from his own fans, Maguire's enduring value is not lost on those whose opinions ultimately matter.
“It never really felt in doubt,” said a senior United source about Maguire's new deal. “The feeling inside the club was that it would always get done.”
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The notion of Maguire, who joined United from Leicester aged 26 for £80million in 2019 – still a world-record fee for a defender – staying on until the age of 34 was laughable a few years ago.
After a moderately successful start to his United career under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who made him captain, the wheels came off spectacularly for Maguire under his next boss, Erik ten Hag.
Although Ten Hag initially kept Maguire on as captain, the centre-back made just eight Premier League starts in his new manager's first season, with Bruno Fernandes taking over as skipper in the summer of 2023.
The loss of the captaincy was inevitable after a season in which Maguire was culpable for a serious of costly blunders, as his confidence was visibly stripped away and his form deserted him.
Maguire was booed in pre-season by some United fans and by supporters when he was on England duty, prompting his mother Zoe to publicly defend her son and claim the abuse her son was subjected to went “far beyond football”.
Yet Maguire's lowest point ultimately proved to be the making of him, his rehabilitation culminating in his resurgence for club and country and the signing of his latest new deal.
After rejecting a move to West Ham in the summer of 2023, when a deal was agreed by both clubs, Maguire set about re-establishing himself as a first-choice for United, his mental resilience and self-belief leading to him achieving that goal against all the odds.
The road to redemption was not straightforward, but the manner in which Maguire conducted himself after losing the captaincy – no sulking, no seeking to blame others for his plight – saw him reclaim his place and is the reason he will remain at United next season, his eighth at the club.
It says everything about Maguire's importance to United that he has started every game under caretaker boss Michael Carrick and has played a key role in the team's rise to third in the Premier League and the brink of a return to the Champions League next season.
Taking a pay cut crucial to extension
Those inside United say the decision to hand Maguire a new deal – understood to be on less than his previous salary of £190,000-a-week - was down to his consistency of performance, as well as his leadership qualities and the high standards he brings to the dressing room.
Maguire's willingness - and that of his representatives - to take a pay cut, in order to extend his time at United, was seen as crucial to a contract extension being agreed, with the Old Trafford hierarchy on a mission to reduce the club's overall wage bill.
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In a squad short on leaders in the traditional sense, Maguire is a key figure, along with Fernandes - and with five-time Champions League winner Casemiro leaving this summer, the United hierarchy felt it was vital to hold on to such an experienced figure who would continue to lead by example.
Director of football Jason Wilcox underlined that sentiment when he said: "Harry represents the mentality and resilience required to perform for Manchester United.
"He is the ultimate professional who brings invaluable experience and leadership to our young, ambitious squad."
As well as experience, Maguire also brings goals, particularly from set-pieces, which have enjoyed a resurgence in recent seasons. The player nicknamed 'Slabhead' because of his sizeable forehead has used it to great effect when it comes to scoring vital goals, none more so than the late winner at arch rivals Liverpool earlier this season, to seal a 2-1 win.
And who could forget his header in the 121st minute of extra-time, to seal a remarkable comeback from 4-2 down to beat Lyon 5-4 at Old Trafford and book United's place in the Europa League semi-finals last season? Although the less said about United's insipid performance in a truly abject final, losing 1-0 to Tottenham in Bilbao, the better.
Carrick future still unclear
While United interim boss Carrick is known to have backed the decision to hand Maguire a new deal and been involved in the process, his endorsement of extending the defender's time with the Red Devils is understood to have no bearing on whether he will be appointed head coach on a permanent basis.
Whoever does land that role this summer – whether it is Carrick or an outside appointment – will inherit a squad with a player and leader on whom he can rely in Maguire, who has the option to extend his deal until 2028, should next season go well for him and United.
Maguire may not represent United's long-term future, given his age, but he can continue to play a central role in their bid to return to the summit of football at home and abroad, with next season already shaping up to be a pivotal one for one of the biggest clubs in world football.
In the short term, however, United will have to do without the services of Maguire for Monday's visit of Leeds to Old Trafford, with the defender suspended, the first game he will have missed under Carrick, where his enforced absence is likely to be keenly felt.
David McDonnell