[ad_1]
Maguire received a 21-month suspended sentence last month after England’s defender was found guilty of assaulting a police officer, insulting, resisting arrest and bribery during an incident in Mykonos.
FILE: Manchester United defender Harry Maguire reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Manchester United at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England, on July 26, 2020. Image: AFP
LONDON – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Harry Maguire will remain the captain of Manchester United this season despite his involvement in a Greek court case.
Maguire received a 21-month suspended sentence last month after England’s defender was found guilty of assaulting a police officer, insulting, resisting arrest and bribery during an incident in Mykonos.
The 27-year-old has denied the crimes and has filed an appeal that overturns the verdict and means he has no criminal record before a full new trial.
Following the original court verdict, Maguire was removed from the England team for their recent Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark.
However, England coach Gareth Southgate has said that he would consider bringing Maguire back to the team for upcoming international matches.
Now United manager Solskjaer has made it clear that he will not punish his central defender by stripping him of the captaincy.
“He has handled it very well and of course I will be here to support him,” Solskjaer told United’s website on Saturday.
“He will be our captain. We will just let Harry and his people and the process run.”
Maguire was a key figure in his first season with United following his £ 80 million ($ 102 million) move from Leicester, which made him the most expensive defender in the world.
Solskjaer said Maguire had coped well with the incident in Greece, which was allegedly triggered when the player and his family and friends were teased and attacked at a nightclub.
“Of course Harry, like you said, had a rough summer. He didn’t have a long break,” Solskjaer said.
“His rest was different from the others, since we gave him a few more days and then he’s back and he looks good.
“To me he is a superior human being, absolutely superior and has always been a positive guy with the right values. So I really hope we can see Harry at his best.”
United will begin their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on September 19 after receiving an extra week of rest following their Europa League appearance in August.
Download the EWN app on your iOS or Android device.
[ad_2]
