Like a LinkedIn Premium member, Manchester United star Harry Maguire has left a glowing endorsement of himself.
Maguire put pen to paper on a new United contract at the start of the week.
Maguire signed a new United contract at the start of the weekGetty
The 33-year-old, whose previous deal expired in the summer, has extended his stay by another year, with the option for a further 12 months.
What’s more, the former Leicester man has taken a pay cut to remain at Old Trafford despite interest from MLS side Inter Miami.
The new contract continues what has been an upturn in fortunes for the centre-back, who has become a mainstay in this United side following Michael Carrick’s appointment earlier in the year.
Maguire’s form was rewarded with an England recall last month and he played the full 90 in their 1-1 draw with Uruguay at Wembley.
Despite an assured performance, Thomas Tuchel has admitted that Maguire is fifth in the centre-back pecking order for the Three Lions, with Marc Guehi, John Stones, Ezri Konsa and Trevoh Chalobah all ahead of the United man for the national team.
Even so, Maguire isn’t giving up his hopes of making England’s World Cup squad for the summer showpiece in North America.
Maguire one of the best?
Maguire admitted to the Athletic that he is “desperate” to go to the World Cup, while insisting he could prove a real asset for Tuchel.
“Whatever role the manager would want me for, whether that’s starting or deciding games late on… I still believe, even at my age, I’m arguably one of the best defenders in the world in both boxes,” Maguire said.
“I don’t think that’s open to question, really.”
Maguire also spoke about United’s Premier League title chances next season, and that the desire to land domestic silverware was a key driver behind his decision to extend his stay at the club.
Maguire made the England squad for games against Uruguay and Japan last monthGetty
United are currently 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal with seven games to play.
Title shot?
However, they have thrived since Carrick succeeded Ruben Amorim at the Old Trafford helm and there are calls for the 44-year-old to remain in charge beyond the end of the season.
Indeed, United have collected 23 points in the 10 games Carrick has overseen, more than any other team since the former Middlesbrough boss returned to Manchester.
And Maguire believes this is a stronger but more ‘open’ Premier League, stating: “Over the last few years you’ve obviously had Manchester City and, before the start of the season, you knew you had to put a points tally together where it was some going to catch them.
“Arsenal are in a strong position of course, but next year we’ve got to be… come February, March, we don’t want to be adrift like we have been this year.
“Next season we’ve got to be in the bracket where, if we get the recruitment right, and everything’s positive from now to the end of the season, and we keep going on the curve, there’s no ceiling to where we can reach.”
1: Premier League Fixtures & Results
United return to domestic duties with the welcome of relegation-threatened Leeds on Monday night as they look to return to winning ways following their 2-2 draw at Bournemouth prior to the international break.
talkSPORT’s take
talkSPORT’s Angelina Kelly thinks Maguire signing a new deal is a good thing for Man United, but not a title-challenging move.
Kelly began on the latest episode of Inside Devils: “I’ve said this about players like (Matthijs) De Ligt, players like Harry Maguire, do I think they are going to be the key to Man United winning a Premier League title one day, for example? Probably not.
“But do I think that you need a player like Harry Maguire in the interim for now? 100 per cent because he is resilient.
“You think of some of the things, stripped of the captaincy, been absolutely obliterated unfairly on social media. He’s just so mentally robust and I think that you need that in a squad.”
She added: “You look at the options for Manchester United, they do still need a first-choice centre-back in my opinion, especially on the left side, because I was reading an article about Lisandro Martinez, brilliant player but isn’t reliable.
Kelly thinks securing Maguire for another year is a positive for UnitedGetty
“I think him and Ayden Heaven have played the same amount of league games this season.
“So I think long-term, especially on the left side, we do need reinforcements. That’s probably a different conversation, but I think for now, keeping Harry Maguire was of extreme importance.
“There’s a lot of business that has got to happen in the summer in my opinion and I think at least knowing we have got Harry Maguire for another season is going to be important.”
Kelly also tipped Maguire to go on and make Thomas Tuchel‘s World Cup squad this summer, saying: “I think he deserves to go to the World Cup in my opinion.
“I think, depending on John Stones and his injury issues, I personally think that he deserves to go. Maybe I’m being a bit Man United-biased.
“I just think he’s never let England down as well and he has got so many redeeming qualities and people always like to focus on the things that he can’t do but there’s a lot of things that he’s very, very capable of doing.”
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