Harry told to ditch captain’s armband and get ‘back to basics’ with performance on the pitch

HARRY Maguire has been urged to give up the United captaincy next season and get ‘back to basics’ in order to rediscover his best form.

Maguire has faced repeated calls to give up the captain’s armband following a disappointing season.

The defender was criticised more than most as United slumped to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, having been tipped for a title challenge before the 2021/22 campaign.

With Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford last summer, many fans feel the Portuguese ace would be a better option as captain. Reports have suggested Maguire will have showdown talks with Erik ten Hag ahead of the new season over his role, with David de Gea and Bruno Fernandes also tipped as potential successors.

And former United defender Mikael Silvestre has backed the calls for Maguire to return the armband this summer.

The Frenchman believes doing so could help him rediscover some of his best form.

“It is tough,” Silvestre said, via the Express. “It is a double challenge.

“Because before being a captain, you need to be a technical leader – and that means playing at your best. “Leadership comes second. But I think he is aware of his situation and he knows exactly where he is in terms of his performances, so hopefully a good break mentally, with a new manager and a new dynamic, that will help him to go back to his best.”

Silvestre added: “We make a lot, especially in England, of who is captain of the team or not. I don’t know why there is so much focus on that, because when you have Cristiano Ronaldo, David de Gea and Bruno Fernandes, you have several ‘captains’ in terms of material.

“So it does not really matter. If you have a British international in your squad and he is capable of being captain, it is good for the identity of the club.

“But it is not a necessity. “So for Harry, I would say the most important thing would be to get back to basics and become again a very, very good defender.”