Michail Antonio slams ‘bullying’ of Harry Maguire after West Ham move collapsed

West Ham star Michail Antonio has called out the "bullying" of Harry Maguire after his transfer from Manchester United collapsed.

Maguire was the subject of a £30million bid from the Hammers last week, which his current club accepted after knocking back their opening offer of £20m in July.

The England international is keen to fight for his place at Old Trafford, however, and the deal has since fallen through with Erik ten Hag happy to retain him as a valued squad player.

Discussing the situation on this week's episode of The Footballer's Football Podcast, which he co-hosts with Newcastle striker Callum Wilson and Radio 1's Richard Haywood-Williams, Antonio came to Maguire's defence.

READ MORE: West Ham move for highly-rated striker who once netted 89 goals in a single season

He said: “I feel like he is a quality player and I know once he gets his confidence back and people stop ripping into him and give him an opportunity to showcase himself again, I feel like he will actually do well.

“I just feel like it’s been more like people just been bullying, I think it’s bullying basically. I’ll say it straight."

Maguire's inconsistent performances at club level since moving to United in 2019 have sparked repeated ridicule on social media and criticism from the media.

Do you agree with Antonio? Let us know in the comments section.

Antonio believes the only way he'll be able to get back to his best is by getting out of Manchester, adding: "I don't feel a change of manager could change his situation. He needs a change of club because he's got that stigma now to his name at United.

"Managers have changed and they've still not really wanted to play him. That stigma of Maguire at United is kind of stuck with him, so I think him stepping away, doing something else and having a new, fresh start can revive him."

Source: Read Full Article