Manchester United star Harry Maguire has opened up on the conversation he had with David Beckham after the England icon reached out to offer his support. Maguire has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford, been stripped of the captaincy and faced considerable abuse on social media for his performances.
Maguire was lambasted once again for an error during England’s win over Scotland last month, having scored an own goal at Hampden Park and was routinely booed by the home fans when he touched the ball. Beckham himself has been public enemy number one in the past for his red card in the 1998 World Cup defeat to Argentina and made a “classy” gesture by reaching out to Maguire.
“I actually spoke with David (Beckham) about three weeks ago after the Scotland game – he got in touch with me so it was really nice of him and I really appreciated that,” Maguire explained. “It meant everything. I’ve spoken throughout my career about David being someone I looked up to and watched when I was a young boy.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t end up on the right wing scoring and assisting as many goals as he has. But he was a big role model when I was growing up. It shows how classy he is to reach out to me and to message me. It was something I really appreciated. It was touching really.”
Maguire’s tumultuous few years at United even saw him receive a bomb threat at his home in Cheshire, where he was living with his fiancee and two young daughters. The Mirror reported that he was threatened a series of bombs would be detonated if he did not quit as captain on the Red Devils.
Maguire has spoken candidly of the significant abuse he has received as he remained at United this summer – though Bruno Fernandes did replace him as captain – having detailed the conversation he shared with Beckham that helped him cope with his struggles on and off the pitch.
“I don’t want to go too much into the conversation but the main thing he did is he reminded me of the career I’ve had to date and the big moments I’ve had in my career,” Maguire added.
“I think when you’re going through tough moments you’ve got to go through past experiences and past memories and where you’ve gone in your career and what you’ve been through.
“Every career is so up and down, especially when you reach what I’ve reached, in terms of being the captain of the biggest club in the world for three and a half years. He’s been in that position and knows what it’s like.”
