Erik ten Hag has reiterated that the Manchester United team will not be involved in selecting the captain for the upcoming campaign.
Harry Maguire, the current captain of the Red Devils, has made intermittent appearances since Ten Hag took over last summer, starting just eight games in the Premier League. Expectedly, the defender’s long-term future at Old Trafford has been called into question due to his lack of playing time.
Tottenham reportedly shortlisted the 30-year-old early this summer, while Juventus, Inter, Newcastle United, and West Ham United have all been keeping an eye on the situation in preparation for possible bids.
Sources have indicated that Maguire is eager to stay at United despite his interest in order to compete for more regular game time.
Bruno Fernandes frequently took the captain’s reins in Maguire’s absence, and Raphael Varane led the club out for Wednesday’s preseason victory over Leeds United in Oslo.
Ten Hag said that the manager will choose the team’s captain for the upcoming season rather than the team as a whole.
“No, I don’t let the dressing room vote. It is up to me,” he said.
Ten Hag also took the time to assess new signing Mason Mount’s performance in the win, hailing the player’s dynamism: “It was a good performance [from Mount], but we expected this because he has so many skills and I am sure he will contribute to the success of Manchester United because he is a quality player.
“His ambition is to play offensively but he also wants to be multifunctional and complete. When you play in midfield you have to attack and defend but I am sure he will bring dynamism into our game.
“That is what we analysed; one of our conclusions last season was that we needed more dynamism in that midfield department.”