Why letting Maguire join Inter could be Carrick's first big mistake at Man Utd

[p][a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1mExn2MHuPbnGUEXf6lIkK?si=xjOcjY6KRya4cmTBGHPu6A" target="_blank"][b]Click here to listen to this article on Spotify[/b][/a][/p][p]His approach was the polar opposite to that of his predecessor, Ruben Amorim, whose initial bullishness about doing things his way was laudable, but then became something of a sticking point when it was clear things weren't working and he was falling out with players left, right and centre.[/p][h2]Maguire's professionalism can't be questioned[/h2][p]Not quite going back to basics, Carrick used an approach of mutual respect to earn the trust and willingness of his playing staff, and results quickly followed.[/p][p]Simple and effective.[/p][p]One of those players who could always be relied upon to deliver for his manager is [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maguire-harry/xG8v3YRA/"]Harry Maguire[/a]. Though the centre-back has his detractors, his professionalism can't be questioned, and Carrick quickly tapped into that, and to his experience.[/p][embed guid="108bdcae-2ecd-423e-b0d8-83e4b62a09cf" url="https://x.com/HarryMaguire93/status/2057495872691159526" social-type="twitter" /][p]A solid showing throughout 2025/26 couldn't earn him a call-up into Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad, which was something of a surprise, but perhaps even more galling than that for the player is the news that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]United[/a] have touted his potential availability to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter/Iw7eKK25/"]Inter[/a].[/p][p][b]According to various sources in Italy, intermediaries have offered the 33-year-old to the Nerazzurri, despite him having only recently signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 campaign.[/b][/p][h2]Man Utd tried to move Maguire on once before[/h2][p]Perhaps the knowledge of still being able to command a fee for him this summer is what's behind the Red Devils' desire to potentially move Maguire on, rather than losing him for next to nothing in January or on a free transfer next summer.[/p][p]Either way, considering his importance to the squad, it still seems an odd decision to make at this point.[/p][embed guid="95159f33-92f2-4325-8979-0e63a477d3e7" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1689202785722470400" social-type="twitter" /][p]For example, who can forget his late intervention at Anfield to put one of many spokes into [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a]'s Premier League title defence.[/p][p]Not that his goalscoring exploits will be what he's remembered for, of course.[/p][p]Lest we forget that it wasn't too long ago, under Erik ten Hag, that Maguire had seemingly become persona non grata and a deal had been agreed with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-ham/Cxq57r8g/"]West Ham[/a] to take the player to East London.[/p][h2]Confidence in his own ability[/h2][p]To his credit, Maguire refused to leave and instead wanted to prove he was good enough to win his place back at United.[/p][p]Such an attitude takes bravery, guts and a complete belief in your own abilities, and whilst the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-ligt-matthijs/hhRKVBXN/"]Matthijs de Ligt[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yoro-leny/hSGFyXra/"]Leny Yoro[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-lisandro/GIzJAqQs/"]Lisandro Martinez[/a] have had their moments, injuries and loss of form have meant that Maguire has been arguably United's most reliable centre-back.[/p][p]His numbers in the most recent season alone make for good reading, too.[/p][image alt="Harry Maguire radar graphic - Premier League 2025/26" id="766b527c-e539-48dc-8b8a-a26fbece9995" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="5fdf3e6b-a758-4884-9755-07500b710a76" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][p]No one else in the entire United squad could top, or even come close to, Maguire's 78.26% tackle success rate, whilst he was also the only Red Devil to make over a century of clearances (114).[/p][p]71 headed clearances were 15 more than his nearest rival in the squad ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shaw-luke/88iLXV0O/"]Luke Shaw[/a], 56), whilst only [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sesko-benjamin/QDozP4IN/"]Benjamin Sesko[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mazraoui-noussair/2ajowGAq/"]Noussair Mazraoui[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lammens-senne/UFssg7X4/"]Senne Lammens[/a] lost fewer tackles than Maguire's four unsuccessful attempts.[/p][h2]Many attributes[/h2][p]In terms of one-on-one duels with regard to United's outfield players, the 33-year-old's 70.67% success was another best-in-class showing, though it should be pointed out that his 150 attempts were significantly down on those of some teammates.[/p][p]85 aerial duels contested placed him joint fifth amongst the squad last season, though only Sesko (70) won more than Maguire's 65.[/p][embed guid="4ce5c8e1-ef25-4bf4-8c08-0df57d61315e" url="https://x.com/OptaJoe/status/2041516029235356067" social-type="twitter" /][p]Even his pass completion rate of 86.41% places him as the seventh-best passer in the squad, which is no mean feat given that he's not necessarily renowned for his passing game.[/p][p]Perhaps the biggest attribute he offers, however, is his experience and desire. That gutsy will-to-win was sorely lacking from some players in the worst of times for United, but Maguire always stood tall.[/p][h2]Has Carrick got it wrong?[/h2][p]That sort of application is priceless, and whilst it's accepted that he's getting no younger, there's still life in the old dog yet.[/p][p]Perhaps there'll be a change of heart in the United camp which would allow Maguire to see out his career at Old Trafford, but if they are indeed looking to go in a new direction, whoever comes in to replace him has awfully big shoes to fill.[/p][image alt="Harry Maguire's heat map vs Brighton" id="f89433ea-d9bb-4b9b-901d-8c1943ea318d" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="8440fec0-c163-4660-aa23-02d4ee52cb68" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]For Carrick, he got almost everything right from the moment he was unveiled as the caretaker manager until the last kick of last season.[/p][p]He wouldn't want to unravel all of that good work with one ill-advised decision...[/p][image alt="Jason Pettigrove" id="ad2e78bd-6daf-4b56-8326-d569f06b63f2" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="bc33d690-33f5-4f2d-b0cd-cb6a87e09393" original-width="1200" original-height="380" /]