Man Utd duo Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo are clashing in the dressing room as both players look to be the main voice at the club, according to reports.
Ronaldo returned to Man Utd in the summer transfer window to much excitement with many supporters thinking his signing, coupled with the arrival of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, could help propel the Red Devils towards the top of the Premier League.
However, despite Ronaldo scoring 15 goals in all competitions this season, Man Utd have been poor with Ralf Rangnick’s side only moving into fourth place in midweek.
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There have been numerous rumours of unrest in the Man Utd dressing room over Mason Greenwood’s arrest and the way Jesse Lingard has been treated by Rangnick.
The latest speculation insisted that some Man Utd players were unhappy at Rangnick’s training methods and that they jokingly referred to assistant boss Chris Armas as fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso.
And now The Daily Mirror claims Maguire and Ronaldo are ’embroiled in a power struggle over the Manchester United captaincy’ as Ralf Rangnick ‘looks to take the pressure off him’.
Maguire, though, is ‘reluctant to relinquish the armband for the rest of the season’ with the England international fearing he will lose ‘the captaincy on a permanent basis’.
The Daily Mirror adds:
‘Interim boss Rangnick has called on Ronaldo to mentor the young players within the squad, which is understood to have led to further friction with Maguire.
‘United skipper Maguire is said to feel increasingly undermined by the 37-year-old superstar’s huge influence within the dressing-room, particularly with the younger players.
‘Ronaldo has positioned himself as the one setting the example for younger players and the need for one figure – himself – to get everyone pulling in the same direction.
‘Maguire is said to feel marginalised in terms of his authority within the United dressing-room, leading to him thinking some of the players are losing respect for him.
‘There is now a growing belief within the Old Trafford dressing-room that it is inevitable Ronaldo will replace Maguire – who has been struggling for form – as captain.’
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