Sitting down with Harry Maguire for one of his first interviews of the season, I found a player who was reflective but also excited about the future and what’s to come.
Maguire is going into his eighth season at Manchester United and has experienced almost every emotion during his time at the club, like the short highs under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the polarising Erik ten Hag period or the ultimately tumultuous time of Ruben Amorim.
However, despite the collective or individual woes over the years, Maguire remains and revels every time in his importance to this squad – which perhaps makes the journey even sweeter.
“To play for this club for one would have been a dream come true when I was a young kid, so to be here going into my eighth season, it’s something I’m really proud of,” Maguire said.
“It’s not about me, but at this stage of my career, I want to be part of a successful team and a team that wins. That’s got to be the aim for all the boys this season – we want to be competitive right until the end of the season in every competition.”
So with days to go ahead of the 2026/27 season, that is the question – can this Manchester United team compete for the title amongst a league full of change?
Maguire reflected: “We want to improve on last season. Everyone wants to win the Premier League, of course that is going to be our aim, that’s what this club demands. We have the belief we can be really competitive and we can beat anyone on our day. It’s going to be an exciting season.”
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‘No doubt this team is different under Carrick’
Having spent a few days around the team in Dublin last week, it is clear there is a comradery and closeness.
It would perhaps be a valid argument that the resetting of the Man Utd changing room culture goes back to Amorim, but nevertheless the squad are benefitting from that having had a successful first six-month spell under Michael Carrick.
For Maguire, he has seen different iterations of Manchester United over the years and he agreed to the notion this squad in particular shares a tight bond.
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“During my time at the club, we’ve had some close groups – no doubt this is one of the closest,” Maguire said. “Spending time together and winning football matches brings teams closer.
“Losing that Europa League final, finishing 15th to finishing third and putting the club back in the Champions League, it was a good season but we can’t stop here.”
There is a certain determination and steel in which Maguire speaks. It could be down to maximising the final years of his career or it could be because he feels the club are close to achieving more silverware.
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However, it seems unlikely Man Utd can do that without further reinforcements in the transfer window. It is clear they are short at left-back and arguably in midfield with Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte both injured.
Maguire said: “I’m at an age now where they can bring in as many players as they want, bring in all the best players… I want to win all the trophies and be greedy about it, but it’s up to the club.
“I’m sure they’re working hard out there to try and bring in the right players, the more the merrier. The stronger the squad, the more opportunity we have of winning these trophies and that’s what it’s all about when you play for this club.”
The future with Heaven and Yoro at the heart of it
Maguire’s role in the team has undoubtedly changed. When he joined the club in 2019 for £80m from Leicester City, he was the second most expensive signing in English top-flight history.
Although he is still a key part of Carrick’s defence at 33, his role now also involves nurturing the defenders in waiting to one day take his spot.
Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro have both shown huge potential over the last 18 months or so and their time will undoubtedly come, as well as 18-year-old Dan Armer, who has been dubbed by fans on social media as a ‘mini Maguire’ – a reference Maguire smiles at when I mention him.
Leny Yoro is coming through as one of Man Utd’s best young defenders
He enjoys playing a part in mentoring them along the way, adding: “I think that comes quite naturally to me, I want them to have amazing careers.
“Hopefully in five or six years’ time, Leny, Ayden and Dan are fighting it out and playing together in this team – that’s all I want. They have the attributes and qualities to do that.
“They’re young, but they’re learning the game under the biggest scrutiny and analysis anyone can imagine and they’re only going to get stronger.
“Hopefully one day they’re the main two centre-half partnership at this club and they’re winning the biggest trophies. Hopefully they’re the strongest partnership in world football – that’s what they’ve got to aim to do.”
