Ruben Amorim Explains Harry Maguire Contract Delay and Highlights Area for Improvement Despite Liverpool Heroics

Manchester United’s new boss is full of praise for his resurgent centre-back — but insists it’s not yet time to talk about a new deal.

The Liverpool Hero Who Still Has a Point to Prove

It says a lot about Harry Maguire’s resilience that he’s still standing tall at Manchester United — and still scoring decisive goals — after everything that’s been thrown his way.

Just a few weeks ago, he headed home an 85th-minute winner at Anfield, giving United their first away victory against Liverpool in nine years. The roar from the away end was deafening. The reaction from his manager, Ruben Amorim, was pure admiration.

“Harry Maguire is really important for us and was today,” Amorim said after that game. “He’s a great example — everything he’s been through, he’s a great example to every kid.”

For Maguire, that moment felt like redemption. But for Amorim, it was just another reminder that the centre-back remains central to United’s plans — even if his future is still uncertain.

The Contract Question: Amorim Says “Not Yet”

As things stand, Maguire is entering the final year of his contract at Old Trafford. From January, he’ll be free to speak with foreign clubs about a possible move next summer.

And yet, despite his strong form and leadership on the pitch, United haven’t opened formal talks about an extension. Amorim insists that’s not a reflection of Maguire’s value — just timing.

“We are really happy with Harry,” the Portuguese coach said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “But it’s not the time to talk about that. Talking about contracts now gives the idea that we’re thinking too far ahead — and right now, we need to focus on the present.

“We are really happy with Harry, he’s really important for us, but we just need to think about the next game.”

In typical Amorim fashion, it was calm, calculated, and team-first. His message was clear: this isn’t about sentiment or long-term speculation — it’s about maintaining focus while United fight to climb back up the Premier League table.

Survivor Maguire: From Captaincy Loss to Cult Hero

Liverpool v Manchester United – Premier League

To understand why Amorim’s faith in Maguire carries weight, you have to rewind a few years.

When Manchester United signed him from Leicester City in 2019 for £80 million, it was a world-record fee for a defender. He was meant to be the cornerstone of United’s defence for the next decade.

His debut, a commanding performance in a 4-0 win over Chelsea, seemed to justify the price tag. By January 2020, he’d been made club captain — and by 2021, he’d helped United to second in the Premier League and the Europa League final, which he sadly missed through injury.

Then came the dark period.

The 2021–22 season was a disaster. United finished sixth, Ole Gunnar Solskjær was sacked, and Maguire became a lightning rod for criticism — much of it cruel and disproportionate. The arrival of Erik ten Hag in 2022 saw him fall out of favour, stripped of the captaincy, and subjected to online abuse that few players could have withstood.

And yet, he never walked away.

Maguire worked his way back into the side, first under Ten Hag, then under Amorim. He became a player reborn — steady, brave, and still a threat from set pieces.

Last season alone, he scored vital goals against Lyon, Leicester, and Ipswich, before his Liverpool winner sealed his transformation from scapegoat to cult hero.

Amorim’s Challenge: Maguire Must “Be Better With the Ball”

Still, Amorim isn’t letting the feel-good story distract from his tactical expectations.

He’s been quick to praise Maguire’s defensive leadership but equally open about where the 31-year-old can still improve.

“It’s good for him to play with three centre-backs — I think he feels more comfortable,” Amorim said. “Because he plays in the centre, he doesn’t need to go to the side so much. Sometimes you help players with the way you play.

“But I think he can be so much better with the ball. He has that quality, and he needs to show it.”

It’s a subtle reminder that Amorim’s United are a different kind of project — one built around tactical flexibility, composure, and ball progression from the back. The Portuguese coach, known for his 3-4-3 and high-pressing style at Sporting CP, wants centre-backs who don’t just defend — they initiate attacks.

Maguire, traditionally seen as a dominant aerial defender rather than a playmaker, has a chance to expand his game under Amorim’s watch.

“He’s not young,” Amorim added, “but he can still learn. He can improve. Nowadays, with the set pieces and the amount of men you put in the box, everyone is playing like that. He’s a massive player for us, and I’m really happy — but that game is in the past. That goal is in the past. Now let’s look forward.”

The Amorim Effect: Structure, Belief, and Second Chances

Since Amorim arrived at Old Trafford, there’s been a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. Training sessions are sharper, the dressing room feels unified, and players who once seemed lost — like Maguire — are finding new purpose.

In many ways, Amorim’s management style has been perfectly suited to Maguire’s story.

He doesn’t judge players on reputation or salary. He looks at application, mentality, and tactical discipline. Those values have allowed Maguire to rebuild trust and confidence.

“He’s been through so much,” a United source said this week. “He could have left, but he stayed, worked hard, and now he’s getting the reward.”

That resilience has made him one of the dressing room’s most respected figures again — not because of the armband, but because of the example he sets.

Maguire and Mount Injury Doubts

Brentford v Manchester United – Premier League

Amorim’s only frustration ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Brighton is that both Maguire and Mason Mount are carrying knocks.

“Harry and Mason have small problems since the Liverpool game,” he confirmed. “We’ll see how they are. They’re doubts for Brighton.”

He also provided an update on Lisandro Martínez, who is still recovering from an ACL injury suffered eight months ago. The Argentine defender is “progressing well” but remains weeks away from full fitness.

That means Maguire’s availability could be crucial — especially against a Brighton side that have beaten United in each of their last three visits to Old Trafford.

Amorim’s Warning: “Forget Liverpool — Focus on Brighton”

If Amorim’s press conferences have a theme, it’s discipline — mental as much as tactical.

He was full of praise for the Liverpool win but just as quick to warn against complacency.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game,” he said. “Brighton are really fun to watch — they’re very strong in build-up, transitions, set pieces… in every aspect of the game.”

He continued: “They are really complete. We need to be really smart and face that game with real focus because they are a strong team. You can see it in how they play — very intense, very technical.”

For Amorim, the message is simple: Liverpool is history.

“We use the good spirit of winning games, yes, but that’s in the past,” he said. “We need to understand that football changes a lot — especially at a club like this. We’re not thinking about the last game. We’re thinking about this one.”

What Comes Next for Maguire

So what does the future hold for Harry Maguire?

If Amorim’s tone is anything to go by, the door to a new contract remains open — just not yet. For now, Maguire’s focus must be on consistency, fitness, and evolving with United’s style of play.

It’s been a long road from being jeered by his own fans to being serenaded by them again. But football has a way of rewarding persistence, and Maguire has earned every bit of this second act.

His story is no longer about survival — it’s about reinvention.

And if Amorim can turn his faith into form, there may yet be one more chapter left for Harry Maguire at Manchester United — not as the captain he once was, but as the leader he’s become.