Harry Maguire reveals private message to Joshua Zirkzee after Man Utd star left in tears

Joshua Zirkzee was mocked by Manchester United fans erstwhile helium was taken disconnected successful the 33rd infinitesimal of the 2-0 decision to Newcastle successful December, forcing Harry Maguire to scope out

Harry Maguire insists helium has ever seen himself arsenic a person astatine Manchester United, and says helium felt the request to scope retired to Joshua Zirkzee after the forward's Newcastle nightmare past month.

Forward Zirkzee, a summertime signing from Bologna, was ruthlessly mocked by location fans arsenic his 33rd infinitesimal substitution was celebrated by immoderate sections of location fans successful the 2-0 Old Trafford decision to the Magpies connected December 30.

The devastated Dutch planetary was near successful tears aft the reaction, but Maguire was speedy to console him.

"I sent him a backstage connection aft the [Newcastle] game," said the centre-back up of Thursday's Europa League clash with Rangers.

"Listen, Joshua is simply a bully subordinate - you don't play for this nine if you're not a bully player. We person astonishing fans who instrumentality with america done heavy and thin. It's not astir individuals."

In United's pursuing game, a 2-2 gully astatine Liverpool, Zirkzee was cheered by travelling fans erstwhile helium came connected arsenic an 86th infinitesimal substitute, and helium past scored the important punishment successful United's FA Cup 3rd circular shootout triumph implicit Arsenal.

Maguire was United's nine skipper for three-and-a-half years earlier being stripped of the armband by Erik 10 Hag successful July 2023, but helium says helium doesn't request the armband to effort and acceptable an example.

"I wouldn't enactment it down to that, whether I'm skipper oregon not, I spot myself arsenic a person successful this radical of players," helium said.

"I'm experienced now, and playing for this nine determination are ups and downs. It's portion and parcel of playing for this club. I look astatine erstwhile players and the likes of (Wayne) Rooney and (David) Beckham, they had a ample magnitude of scrutiny connected them and they're world-class players."

Sunday's 3-1 decision to Brighton was United's 4th nonaccomplishment successful their past 5 Old Trafford matches, but Maguire thinks those games could person gone either way.

"We spoke astir the archetypal extremity astatine Old Trafford and it's not teams are coming and opening america up and breaking america down," helium continued.

"The crippled against Brighton was 50/50, it could person gone either mode and we request to halt giving distant the archetypal goal. Football games are defined by tiny margins. We cognize things tin crook and time is simply a accidental to spell retired determination and enactment connected a performance."

The authoritative programme screen for Manchester United v Rangers has been revealed, and it is paying tribute to 'The King', Denis Law. As good arsenic the cover, determination volition beryllium peculiar features wrong dedicated to the Manchester United and Scotland legend. Copies volition beryllium disposable astatine Old Trafford connected matchday or online .