Man Utd transfer news: Ruben Amorim gives contract updates to Amad Diallo and Harry Maguire | Football news
Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Manchester United will exercise their one-year option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract.
Maguire is out of contract in the summer, but Ruben Amorim has confirmed that the former club captain will stay beyond the end of this season, while also adding that Amad Diallo is “close” to agreeing a new contract with the club.
“Amad is close,” Amorim said ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool, live Sky Sports on Sunday.
“Harry, we’re going to run our option. I spoke to him this morning and I told him he needs to improve his game on the pitch, we really need him. And he also needs to improve as a leader.
“We all know the situation he’s been in here, but we really need him at the moment so we’re going to run an option for Harry, thankfully.”
Amorim: ‘We are starving’ for leaders
Maguire lost the United captaincy and fell down the pecking order at the club under former manager Erik ten Hag – seemingly on his way out of the club – but has found new life under Amorim, who prefers to play with three centre-backs.
Although Maguire did not take the armband for Monday’s 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle despite the absence of suspended captain Bruno Fernandes, Amorim said his leadership qualities were crucial for the club.
“There are moments in a player’s career that are different,” Amorim added.
“I think he’s handled his struggles really well and when you look at our team, we’re 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 2023 Carabao Cup and last season’s FA Cup.
Diallo, on the other hand, has been one of United’s better performers this season and has scored five goals, including a late winner in last month’s dramatic win against rivals Manchester City.
The 22-year-old, who has had loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland, joins United from Atalanta in the summer of 2021.
Maguire: Amorim the total opposite of Ten Hag
In an exclusive interview for Sky Sports News at the end of 2024, Maguire backed Amorim to turn around United’s dismal season, adding that he felt Amorim’s job was much more difficult as he was “the complete opposite” of Erik ten Hag, but
Amorim inherited a team that Ten Hag had built to play transitional, counter-attacking football, making them highly unsuitable for his philosophy, which emphasizes possession and setting 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 lift the club up the table.
“It’s about managers and styles, it’s not like they’ve come in and have similar styles,” Maguire told Sky Sports. “They are the total opposite in terms of what they want and what they are looking for.
“So the transition period will be difficult. We all have great confidence in the manager and his entire coaching staff. I’m sure things will turn around. He knows exactly what he needs to do to bring this club back.
“He came in and did everything he needed to do. He’s really demanding.”
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