Manchester United will have a new captain ahead of the 23/24 season.
On Sunday, it was confirmed that Harry Maguire has been stripped of the captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag.
The Englishman wrote on social media: “After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.
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“So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the Manchester United fans for all their brilliant support whilst I’ve been wearing the armband.”
Ahead of the new campaign, we have decided to rank the likely contenders to succeed Maguire as United’s skipper.
1. Bruno Fernandes
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The Portuguese is many United fans’ favourite to take over the captain’s armband. Fernandes led the team out on numerous occasions last season due to Maguire being left out of the starting XI and is the most likely candidate to be named the new captain.
2. Raphael Varane
Varane was the captain when United kicked off their pre-season with a 2-0 win against Leeds United.
The Frenchman said after the match: “It was an honour for me to be a captain for the game.”
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Having won the biggest trophies in football including the Champions League and the World Cup, Varane is for sure a big contender to take over from Maguire.
3. Casemiro
Casemiro has had a huge impact since moving to Old Trafford from Real Madrid last summer. Likely to be a nailed-on starter, his experience and know-how could be key for United as they look for their new leader.
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4. Marcus Rashford
Perhaps not an obvious choice but the local boy knows what it means to play for United.
As he is on the verge of signing a new contract with the club, the captain’s armband will not look out of place on Rashford.
5. Lisandro Martinez
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Another player who has had a major impact despite not being at the club for long.
Martinez endeared himself to the Old Trafford faithful through his no-nonsense and passionate displays on the pitch. The Argentine was seen backing his teammates on multiple occasions and fans will feel he has the necessary qualities to become United’s new captain.
Who do you think should be United’s new captain? Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Manchester United, Football, Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Bruno Fernandes