• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Rio Ferdinand Names His Pick For Manchester United Captain, It's Not Harry Maguire

Home> Football

Published 17:15 1 Jan 2022 GMT

Rio Ferdinand Names His Pick For Manchester United Captain, It's Not Harry Maguire

Maguire has faced criticism for his performances this season.

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan

Rio Ferdinand says Harry Maguire was handed the Manchester United captaincy too soon after joining the club and would prefer to see David De Gea named as skipper.

Maguire, 28, was handed the armband in January 2020 by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – just five months after joining United in a £80m move from Leicester.

Maguire has faced criticism for his performances this season and former United defender Ferdinand says the “massive responsibility” of the captaincy could be weighing heavily on the England international.

Maguire has been criticised for his performances this season (Image: Alamy)
Maguire has been criticised for his performances this season (Image: Alamy)

When asked if Maguire would have been dropped by now if he was not club captain, Ferdinand told Vibe with Five: "The fact that he has had the armband has given him that grace, which it would do.

"I think he was given it too early. It’s a hard enough job coming into Manchester United, getting your feet under the table and starting to feel comfortable as it is without the added pressure of being captain.

"Being captain is a massive responsibility, there is history that goes with it, a big weight on your shoulders.

"You need to experience being there for a period of time to carry that weight.

Ferdinand would prefer to see De Gea named captain (Image: Alamy)
Ferdinand would prefer to see De Gea named captain (Image: Alamy)

“It was more important for Maguire to come in and concentrate on becoming a Manchester United mainstay than being captain."

Ferdinand believes De Gea is a better pick for captain and would allow Maguire to concentrate solely on his own performance.

The Spanish goalkeeper is United’s longest serving player, having joined the club from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

Ferdinand added: "The thing you can counter that [Maguire criticism] with is that there weren’t many captains at the club - who else are they going to pick?"

"David de Gea would have been my choice because of the time he’s been there and he knows what it takes to win.

Ferdinand says the pressure of the United captaincy could be affecting Maguire (Image: Alamy)
Ferdinand says the pressure of the United captaincy could be affecting Maguire (Image: Alamy)

"This is all with hindsight but you have to got to think about these times that might come with someone like Harry Maguire, new at the club in that sense.

“And that added pressure is weighing on him heavily at the moment."

United are now seventh in the Premier League, four points off the Champions League places, following Tottenham’s dramatic win over Watford on Saturday.

Ralf Rangnick’s side next face Wolves on Monday before facing Aston Villa in the FA Cup on January 10.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Harry Maguire, David De Gea, Rio Ferdinand

Rory O'Callaghan
Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

X

@rory_ocallaghan

Choose your content:

an hour ago
11 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Liverpool and Real Madrid swap deal scenario emerges and it could solve two major problems

    The Premier League champions will look to defend their crown next season, while Xabi Alonso's Los Blancos hope to return to winning ways.

    Football
  • 11 hours ago

    Jack Grealish tipped to complete shock transfer nobody predicted that'll 'get him back in the England team'

    The Manchester City winger was omitted from the Club World Cup squad amid links with several other Premier League sides.

    Football
  • 13 hours ago

    Wrexham smash transfer record for third summer signing as 'deal agreed' for Serie A star out of nowhere

    The Championship team are set to welcome a highly rated winger in a reported club-record deal for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side.

    Football
  • 13 hours ago

    Chelsea brutally put nine names on transfer list after Club World Cup win including player who featured in final

    Chelsea have reportedly made nine players available for transfer after their sensational Club World Cup success.

    Football