Harry Maguire is the world’s most expensive centre-back and captain of arguably the world’s most famous football club. As ever with high-earning, high-profile individuals, the appraisals are often more extreme and miss the context they really ought to include.
To different people, Harry Maguire means different things. To England manager Gareth Southgate, he is an automatic starter in a national team that routinely challenges the latter stages of competitions.
To the passive England fan, he is the popular defender with the big head who became an internet meme by propping himself against the hoardings to talk to three women (one of whom is now his wife) during the 2018 World Cup.
To Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, he is his captain. But he is also, at varying moments, his third-, fourth- or fifth-choice centre-half.
To Pep Guardiola, he was the player he first targeted to replace Vincent Kompany at Manchester City before United outbid their rivals.
To the Greek police, he is an English holidaymaker guilty of attempted bribery, repeated bodily harm and violence against public employees. To his lawyer, he maintains his innocence and continues to appeal the verdict.
To more forgiving Manchester United fans, he is a good lad who plays well at times, tries his best but…
