Harry Maguire is finished! Why Gareth Southgate must give up on Man Utd outcast if he wants to win Euro 2024
The world's most expensive defender is holding the Three Lions back — and the manager has to wield the axe before it's too late
England have all the tools to win the 2024 European Championship, as Gareth Southgate boasts arguably the most well-rounded squad in international football. That is, if you remove Harry Maguire from the equation.
The Manchester United centre-half has won 58 caps for his country to date, chipping in with seven goals along the way, with many of his best performances coming at major tournaments. The problem is, at 30-years-old, Maguire is now so clearly past his prime.
United spent £80 million ($100m) to sign Maguire from Leicester City back in 2019, but struggled to sell him for even a quarter of that amount in the summer transfer window. He spent the majority of last season on the sidelines at club level, having fallen down the pecking order following Erik ten Hag's appointment as manager at Old Trafford, and was rightly stripped of his captaincy duties in July.
There appears to be no way back for Maguire in Manchester, and yet, he remains a firm fixture in England's starting XI. Southgate has always had his favourites, but it's getting harder and harder for him to justify the inclusion of the former Leicester man.
If Maguire is still in the picture by the time the Euros kick off in Germany next summer, England can kiss their chances of glory goodbye. Southgate must be well aware of the lumbering defender's limitations by now, and the time has come for him to show that he has a ruthless streak by cutting him out of his plans as soon as possible.
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