Harry Maguire Reveals How David Beckham Helped Him Amid Criticism

Manchester United defender, Harry Maguire, has revealed how football legend, David Beckham helped him when he was booed while on international duties.

Maguire has been subjected to a series of criticism from football fans while playing for United and England’s national team due to some of his unnecessary errors.

On September 12, 2023, Maguire put himself at the centre of criticism when he scored an own goal in England’s 3-1 win over Scotland in an international friendly.

Afterwards, Scottish football fans subjected him to boos to the extent that some English fans joined in the demeaning gesture.

However, David Beckham, who is a Manchester United and England legend, spoke with Maguire via the phone, a gesture, the 30-year-old defender said “meant everything” to him.

“I actually spoke with David about three weeks ago, after the game,” Harry Maguire said.

“He got in touch with me, so it was really nice of him, and I really appreciated that.”

He added, “It meant everything. I’ve spoken throughout my career about David Beckham being someone I looked up to and watched when I was a young boy.

“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 joined Manchester United from Leicester City in 2019 for a transfer fee worth £80 million, which was then the highest fee paid for a defender.

Months after Erik ten Hag took over as manager of Manchester United in 2022, Maguire lost the captaincy and hardly played regularly for the Red Devils.

In recent games, he has played more regularly thanks to the injury crisis at Old Trafford. He started in United’s 2-1 win over Brentford and even provided an assist for Scott McTominay’s game-winning goal.

Maguire’s improved form has earned him a place in the Three Lions of England for the friendly game against Australia on October 13, and Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy on October 17.

Ahead of the games, Maguire stressed that every top player has faced criticism in the past.

“I have had some huge plaudits over the years playing for my country,” he said.

“Probably the last year or so hasn’t been like that, but the previous five, I was getting loads and loads of credit.

“That’s football, that’s the way it works. You don’t just keep playing at the top and not get any criticism. That doesn’t happen unless you are the best in the world, and that’s probably Messi and Ronaldo, and even they still get criticized as well.

“There has been a lot of talk about me over the last year. For that talk to happen, you have got to have built your way up to be a top performer like I’ve done over the previous five years.

“Things haven’t gone to plan over the last year or so, but I am sure it will get back on track.

“A career is a long path. Many ups, many downs, it probably has been a little blip, and I am trying to get back to where I was.”