Ghanaian MP Isaac Adongo has apologised to Manchester United star Harry Maguire after using his name in a political context last year. Adongo had previously compared Maguire to Ghana’s vice president , Mahamudu Bawumia, suggesting both were prone to scoring “political own goals.” Meanwhile, in a recent parliamentary session, Adongo acknowledged that Maguire has improved in his performance, and publicly apologized to the Manchester United defender. He said, “If you remember last year I was very quick to compare (vice-president) Mahamudu Bawumia to Harry Maguire. Mr Speaker, I now apologize to Harry Maguire.”
Harry Maguire – Getty image Adongo went on to point out Maguire’s positive transformation on the football field, “Today Maguire has turned the corner, he’s a transformational footballer. “Harry Maguire is now scoring goals for Manchester United,” he added. Making another subtle statement, the MP used the football analogy to take another dig at the vice president. “As for our Maguire, the economic Maguire, he was able to get pensioners to leave their homes and come and parade in the streets.”
Harry Maguire on captain duty for Manchester United. Source: Getty He still retained the armband when on the field, but his future under Ten Hag now looks increasingly in doubt. Indeed, he’s reportedly part of an intended summer clear out, with David de Gea confirming on Saturday, July 8, that he’s leaving the club after 11 years. Maguire has been at Old Trafford since making a world-record £80 million switch from Leicester City in 2019 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge and was appointed captain soon after. But there have been calls to replace the centre-back in that particular role due to the change in his squad status, and now Ten Hag is ready to inflict more misery on Maguire by stripping him of the captaincy. According to The Sun, Maguire will be replaced as captain ‘over the course of the next week’ whether he decides to stay or leave. The England defender has a year left on his current deal and United may be looking to cash in to recover a sizeable fee. 
Maguire at a match for Manchester United. Source: Getty Manchester United would sell Maguire to Newcastle due to the finances involved but a loan to St James’ Park is out of the question. The Sun reported that Newcastle is eager to work out a loan deal but the Red Devils have no intention of bolstering the ranks of a top-four rival without being financially rewarded. Aston Villa are watching keenly as they want extra cover in the squad for their European campaign. Villa would have a better chance of a loan deal being accepted by United. Tottenham are linked with the 30-year-old but are yet to make a play. Leicester was also keen on signing the defender but relegation put an end to that idea. United players will reportedly get a pay rise following qualification for the Champions League. And Maguire’s current wages of around £200,000 a week would already be hard to match by most Premier rivals. 
Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire. Source: Getty Maguire lost his place in Erik ten Hag’s side at the start of the season with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane the manager’s first-choice pairing. Victor Lindelof was also the Dutchman’s preferred option during the final stages of the season with left-back Luke Shaw also selected ahead of Maguire on a number of occasions. Ten Hag recently suggested his skipper is not happy with the situation and opened the door for him to leave Old Trafford this summer. United are thought to be working on a deal to sign Napoli star Kim Min-Jae and could cash in on Maguire to help fund that move. The Red Devils fans may need to ready themselves for weeks or even months of rumours about Maguire with no firm decision emerging just yet. 
The quarter-final match ended 3-0 in favour of the Spanish side and Maguire was at fault for the first goal the team conceded in the eighth minute. His undefined pass at the edge of the box got intercepted by Youssef En-Nesyri, who netted the opening goal. However, Ten Hag has defended him, insisting that the England international is an example for the team. 
He said; “He has an important role, he is the captain, he leads and he communicates with the manager, motivates the team, he’s the example in the training space.” 
Manchester Evening News reported that the club decided to classify Martial as sellable before his latest injury setback last week. Martial returned from a two-and-a-half week absence to score as a substitute in the League Cup semi-final second-leg win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, February 1, however, he withdrew from the squad for the Premier League defeat of Crystal Palace three days later. Martial, 27, has missed 20 of United’s 34 games this season and he has been absent for a total of 16 weeks through five separate injury lay-offs. The Frenchman is under contract until 2024 and United has the option of an additional year, so the upcoming summer transfer window is a prime time to try and cash in on Martial. 
He said; “I feel like I’ve looked after myself – I think it’s two-and-a-half weeks since my last start – so I’ve been working hard in training, the lads who’ve been playing have been doing well so when I get the opportunity I need to take it and make sure we win. It was nice to be out there helping the lads and I’m ready when my chance comes. “Of course, I’m a player, 29 years old, and I haven’t really been in this position in my career so it’s a position that I don’t want to get used to, but it’s part of the parcel of football. “I’m working hard every day, I’m pushing, I’m training well, and when my chance comes I need to take it. We know at this club we need competition for places, we have some top centre-backs at this club so I think we’re all good from now until the end of the season.”