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Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Manchester United will trigger their one-year option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract.
Maguire is expected to be out of contract in the summer but Ruben Amorim confirmed that the former club captain would stay beyond the end of this season, also adding that Amad Diallo is “close” to agreeing a new deal with the club.
“Amad is close,” said Amorim ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool, live on Air Sports on Sunday.
“Harry, we are going to trigger our selection. I spoke to him this morning and I told him that he needs to improve his game on the pitch, we need him a lot. And he also needs to improve as a leader.
“We all know the situation he had here but we really need him in this moment so we are going to trigger, happily, the option for Harry.”
Amorim: We ‘starve’ for leaders
Maguire lost the United captaincy and fell down the pecking order under former manager Erik ten Hag – seemingly on his way out of the club – but has found new life under Amorim, who is better he played with three central defenders.
Although Maguire did not take the arm for Monday’s 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle despite the absence of suspended captain Bruno Fernandes, Amorim said his leadership qualities were key for the club.
“There are moments in a player’s career that are different,” added Amorim.
“I think he coped very well with his struggles and when you look at our team, we are starving for leaders on the pitch.
“He is a leader, he has to improve that part and he has to improve our game and we are happy to continue with him.”
Maguire has made 222 appearances and scored 12 goals since joining United from Leicester City in 2019.
The central defender has won two major trophies in that period – the Carabao Cup in 2023, and the English FA Cup last season.
Meanwhile, Amad has been one of United’s best performers this season and has scored five goals, including a late winner in last month’s dramatic win over rivals Manchester City.
The 22-year-old, who has been on loan with Rangers and Sunderland, joined United from Atalanta in the summer of 2021.
Why Man Utd are extending Maguire’s stay
Sky Sports News Correspondent Melissa Reddy:
“In the dark days under Erik ten Hag and now during this heavy storm that Ruben Amorim is trying to confuse – Harry Maguire has emerged as one of the most consistent and reliable players.
“He’s gone through horrible times in his Manchester United career, but through it all he’s remained professional. He’s trained very hard, worked very hard, and fought his way back to r corlan.
“Amorim has on several occasions held Maguire up as an example to other players who are going through testing periods as a way to show how to move out of that.
“He also told us that this club is starving for leaders and that Maguire is one of them.”
Maguire: Total Amorim opposite Ten Hag
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News at the end of 2024, Maguire backed Amorim to turn around United’s miserable season, adding that he felt Amorim’s job was much more difficult because he was “the complete opposite” of Erik ten Hag.
Amorim has inherited a squad that Ten Hag built to play transitional, counter-attacking football, making them highly unsuitable for his philosophy, which emphasizes possession and using a high line.
Amorim also has the added complication of preferring to play with three at the back, but Maguire said he has what it takes to overcome his difficult start and propel the club up the table.
“The thing is with the managers and the styles, it’s not like they’ve come in and they’ve got similar styles,” Maguire told Sky Sports. “They are the complete opposite in terms of what they want and what they demand.
“So the transition period is going to be tough. We all have a lot of faith in the manager and all his coaching staff. I’m sure things are going to change. He knows exactly what what he needs to do to get this club back.
“He’s come in and done everything that needs to be done. He’s asking a lot.”
