Jamie Carragher suggests that the alleged power struggle between Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United contributed to the increase in abuse directed at the defender.

Despite initially performing well for the Red Devils after an £80 million transfer from Leicester and earning the captain’s armband, Maguire’s performances declined.

During the 2021/22 season, reports emerged of clashes between Maguire and Ronaldo, particularly after Ronaldo was asked to mentor younger Manchester United players instead of Maguire. Maguire took to social media to deny any reports of conflict with Ronaldo, stating that they were united and focused.

However, Carragher believes that these rumors increased the pressure on Maguire, and he was already being criticized by supporters for some lackluster performances.

Carragher points out that Manchester United fans jeered Maguire during pre-season games in 2022 and 2023. He mentions a particularly distasteful incident during a friendly with Borussia Dortmund in July, where new signing Andre Onana started yelling at Maguire, seemingly to gain favor with United fans.

Carragher argues that Maguire should have reacted more assertively and demanded respect. Instead, he appears to have lost confidence and authority.

Carragher also believes that England manager Gareth Southgate should consider dropping Maguire from the national team for his own well-being. He suggests that Maguire’s current situation, both personally and professionally, is unsustainable, and there needs to be an honest conversation with those closest to him to resolve the ongoing drama surrounding him.

Carragher expresses concern for Maguire’s mental well-being and suggests that continually exposing him to such a high-pressure environment without regular, high-quality club football may not be beneficial for his career recovery. He concludes that the situation needs to change, primarily for Maguire’s sake, as he believes the player is enduring harassment and being belittled.