Michael Carrick speaks out on Harry Maguire’s future and contract situation at Man Utd

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has underlined the importance of Harry Maguire’s experience as uncertainty swirls around the defender’s long-term future at Old Trafford.

Maguire, 32, is entering the final phase of his current deal, which is set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. The former club captain saw his terms extended last January after establishing himself as a cornerstone of Ruben Amorim’s back line, and he has remained a fixture since Carrick stepped into the dugout.

Across Carrick’s six Premier League fixtures in temporary charge, Maguire has started every match and completed the full 90 minutes in five of them, forging a reliable partnership with Lisandro Martínez until the Argentine’s recent injury setback.

Addressing reporters ahead of United’s next outing, Carrick emphasised the intangible value of seasoned campaigners within a developing squad.

“Within the squad there is that balance,” he said. “You want that younger potential and excitement and helping develop players. You need the sweet spot in the middle with players at the peak and experience is massive. It’s hard to put a price on how valuable that can be.”

Carrick, who himself played until 34, drew direct parallels between Maguire’s current stage and his own late-career peak.

“There is a case, as your career goes, when you’re a young player and everything is fresh and new you’re fearless and there’s not many scars there,” he explained. “You get to your peak years and you feel good and everything is there, but you’ve had a few ups and downs. You get towards the later times and the experience should make you a better player. We’ve seen that with Harry’s performances of late.

“That’s why experience is important. I felt it when I was playing—31 or 32 were my best years of being and that sweet spot to do it physically still, but use the experiences to know what is coming.”

Maguire arrived at United from Leicester City in 2019 for a reported £80 million and, after losing the captaincy under Erik ten Hag in 2023, has re-emerged as a key contributor. During his tenure at the club he has added both the FA Cup and League Cup to his personal trophy haul.

With negotiations over an extension yet to surface publicly, Maguire’s displays under Carrick appear central to the club’s immediate plans, even as questions persist regarding his role beyond the current campaign.