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Rio Ferdinand knows what it takes to succeed as a Manchester United centre-back and he has offered advice to Harry Maguire over the years.
Harry Maguire’s Manchester United career has been a rollercoaster. Since his £80 million transfer from Leicester City in 2019, he has constantly been under the media spotlight.
Following his successful 2025/26 season, Maguire extended his contract until 2027 with an option to extend for another year.
It is a huge show of trust from Ineos in Maguire’s leadership and qualities, with Jason Wilcox describing him as a key figure in the dressing room. But if Maguire had listened to Rio Ferdinand, he would no longer be calling Old Trafford home.
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Rio Ferdinand told Harry Maguire to leave Man Utd
Back in 2023, United agreed a fee for Maguire with West Ham, and it looked as though the English defender would depart for around £30 million.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Ferdinand admitted that he personally told Maguire to leave to get minutes elsewhere.
“He was tossed about I think he was offered to West Ham and various other clubs over the time and he said no,” Ferdinand said.
“And I was one of the guys that was saying: ‘go and play, go out and play.’
“And I have to give him his credit. He’s stuck by his decision, his determination, and his kind of stubbornness has gotten him to this point here.”
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At the time when Maguire was being linked with an exit, he was stripped of the captaincy at United by Erik ten Hag and was under intense scrutiny.
Despite the criticism he faced while playing for club and country, Maguire kept his head down and worked his way back into the starting XI.
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Now, Michael Carrick understands Maguire’s importance and it was important that Ineos kept him around given another leader in the shape of Casemiro is already leaving this summer.
United fans wanted Maguire to stay, and their wish was granted by Ineos. At 33, Maguire is no doubt in the twilight years of his career, but he has proven this season that he still has so much to offer both on and off the pitch.
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