'He was a meme!' - Wayne Rooney backs Harry Maguire for England World Cup recall after Man Utd heroics against Liverpool & overcoming 'bullying'

Maguire, who became the most expensive defender in world football when joining the Red Devils in 2019, appeared to have little future with United after being stripped of captaincy duties and demoted to the bench. He has, however, played his way back into favour.

The 32-year-old has never been the type to back down from a challenge and has taken on an important role for Ruben Amorim during more struggles for consistency under the Portuguese coach. A position in the Red Devils’ much-maligned back three was found for Maguire for the high-stakes trip to Anfield.

Rooney admits to being concerned about Amorim’s selection for that clash, with the likes of Leny Yoro and Benjamin Sesko being dropped to the bench. He did, however, see Maguire head home an 84th-minute winner on Merseyside.

United’s all-time leading goal-scorer said on The Wayne Rooney Show podcast: “I was worried, to be honest. But you know what? I thought fair play to the manager because I think he got his tactics absolutely spot on. And I think bringing Harry Maguire in, I don’t know whether that was through injury or he had to, and I said a few weeks ago on here he’s such an important player for Manchester United.”

Rooney went on to say of the troubles that Maguire has had to work his way through, with the experienced defender becoming a figure of fun at times: “I think with Harry, I would really struggle to have dealt with what he’s been through. You know, he was a meme for years. I think I’ve seen him in parliament, over in Africa somewhere where he’s getting brought up in that and they’re laughing at him. So for him to have dealt with so much of what he’s dealt with, he’s incredibly strong-minded to have gone through that.

“Then, getting the armband taken off him and people laughing at him and you’re like, this guy has been in World Cup teams of the tournament and been incredible for England, been really good for Man Utd and it’s completely unfair, and it was bullying. He was getting bullied from all over the place and for him to have dealt with that and got through it and stuck with it, you’d have to say ‘you know what, that’s a strong human being’. And for him to get through that and his family to get through that and come out the other side and show his ability, quality and strength, I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Rooney is now of the opinion that Maguire should be recalled by England ahead of the 2026 World Cup, having failed to make any of the squads pieced together by Thomas Tuchel so far. Ex-Three Lions skipper Rooney added: “Harry Maguire for me shows why he should be in the World Cup squad and I really mean that I think he’s so important. I heard Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink speaking about him in that England squad and how much of a leader he is and players look up to him and it’s the same at Man Utd.

“He could have completely downed tools and wanted to leave the football club when he had the armband taken off him and that’s not easy for any player. Your self pride takes a massive hit when that happens and he’s having to stick there and support Bruno [Fernandes] as captain and not play every game and come on for the last 10 minutes of games. [Against Liverpool] coming in and playing really well again and showing that leadership and he’s a threat as well, set-pieces are so important.”

Maguire has 64 England caps to his name, having made his senior international debut in 2017. He will be hoping to play his way into Tuchel’s thoughts, while also staking a claim to a contract extension at Old Trafford - with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2026.