Ruben Amorim has confirmed Manchester United will trigger their one-year option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract.
Maguire is due to be out of contract in the summer but Ruben Amorim confirmed the former club captain would be staying beyond the end of this season, while also adding that Amad Diallo is “near” to agreeing a new deal with the club.
“Amad is close,” Amorim said ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool, live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
“Harry, we are going to trigger our option. I spoke with him this morning and I told him he needs to improve his game on the pitch, we need him a lot. And also he needs to improve as a leader.
“We all know the situation he had here but we need him a lot in this moment so we are going to trigger, happily the option for Harry.”
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 a new lease of life under Amorim, who prefers to play with three central defenders.
Although Maguire did not take the armband for Monday’s 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle despite the absence of suspended captain Bruno Fernandes, Amorim said his leadership qualities were key to the club.
“There are moments in the career of a player that are different,” Amorim added.
“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 time – the Carabao Cup in 2023, and last season’s FA Cup.
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