HARRY MAGUIRE HAS been handed the Number 5 shirt at Manchester United and a famous former owner of the jersey, Rio Ferdinand, is sure the England defender will thrive despite the expectations at Old Trafford.
After a saga lasting for the much of the close season, Maguire’s move to United was finally confirmed on Monday.
The former Hull City and Sheffield United centre-back is reported to have become the world’s most expensive defender, with United said to have paid Leicester City an £80million transfer fee.
Despite the pressure that comes with such a fee, United great Ferdinand believes Maguire will more than live up to the billing.
“Is there pressure? Yes. Is there expectation from across the world? Definitely. Are all eyes on me [after being the subject of a record-breaking transfer]? 100 per cent,” Ferdinand, who became the most expensive British footballer when he signed for United from Leeds United in 2002, wrote on Instagram.
“Will your team-mates be expecting big things? Of course. Will people be expecting a massive change in the team’s fortune? Most definitely.
“These were the feelings and questions that were surrounding me when signing for the great club United.
“He’s grown into someone who can lead and be a leader of men, and shown at both ends of the pitch he can be effective.
“I think something United have needed defensively in recent years is a big character who can take on the responsibility of leading from the back and, from what I’ve heard from people who know him well, they are confident that he will bring that to this football club.
“I would like to wish him well in the No.5 shirt of United and hope he can help bring back success to our club.”
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Top 6 this season
Liverpool
City
Arsenal
Spurs
Chelsea
United
@Chonky Racoon: quietly confident united can get top 4 . Chelsea are going to crumble badly and David Luiz is not Arsenal’s answer at centre back . City/pool 1-2 and spurs probably 3rd but united have a great chance of getting ahead of the other 2 .
@Niall James Fergal McCormack: yeah I’d say United have a better chance than Chelsea. Lampards not going to cut it at all.. Arsenal have the firepower to get third ahead of spurs, we’ll still have a decent defence in a few weeks. Zaha coming tomorrow as well, two unreal wingers and lethal strikers.
@Chonky Racoon: Your still Rubbish at the back, Don’t get the Luiz transfer at all, Tierney is a great signing, sad to see him go from Celtic, Arsenal will be fighting for the top 4 all right, don’t know who pepe is either, Don’t think Zaha is good enough either, you’ll be fighting for fourth again
@Chonky Racoon: You say Lampard isn’t going to cut it as if Ole has won all there is to win as a football manager! The only certs for top 4 this year are City and Liverpool. You’d likely say Spurs are there too. Of the remaining 3, only Arsenal have improved significantly in terms of recruitment. So I think it’s really a free for all for that last top 4 position.
@Quoka: is that a rabbit in your profile? And yeah spot on.. Realistically 4th is going to be a tight scrap between 3 teams, Arsenal will there at stage. But think we’ll get out of it
@Chonky Racoon: Think city will win league, and liverpool will struggle to keep pace with them over the season.. We’ll soon find out if Klopps tactic of not reinforcing with a big money signing will be a moment of genius or a missed opportunity.
I understand his philosophy not buying for the sack of buying but will the young guns be good enough to win them a league only time will tell. Fingers crossed they will eventually end the wait and become champions for the first time since 1990
1.City
2.Liverpool
3.Spurs
4.Chelsea
5. West Ham
6. Arsenal
7. Everton
8. United
Top 6
City
Pool
Arsenal
Spurs
Chelsea
Wolves
Leicester
Utd/Everton
Hopefully I’m wrong and Chelsea can get top 4 for king frank, but with only kovacic in and hazard gone and champs league can’t see us making top 4, others have bought v well incl Everton if they get Zaha too 4
Where will Chelsea’s goals come from now Hazard has left?