What did Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney say about Harry Maguire who was ‘a meme for years’ after his winning goal against Liverpool?
**Wayne Rooney Defends Harry Maguire After Winning Goal Against Liverpool, Backs Him for England’s 2026 World Cup Squad**
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has come to the defense of Harry Maguire following the defender’s match-winning goal against Liverpool. Rooney believes Maguire deserves a spot in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad next summer.
Speaking on his BBC show, Rooney recalled the challenging period Maguire has endured, including being mocked and turned into a worldwide meme—most notably even in the Ghana parliament. Rooney praised the Manchester United defender’s mental strength, saying:
> “Today shows why he should be in the World Cup squad. And I really mean that. I think he’s so important. 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.”
He added:
> “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, he’s incredibly strong-minded to have gone through that. Then getting the armband taken off him and people laughing at him.”
Rooney went on to say that the bullying Maguire faced from fans was unfair and unjustified:
> “You’re like this guy has been in World Cup teams of the tournament and been incredible for England, been really good for Man United 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 and quality and strength, I couldn’t be happier for him.”
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### Harry Maguire’s Manchester United Future
Harry Maguire joined Manchester United from Leicester City for a British-record fee of £80 million. However, he was reportedly close to leaving the club after Erik ten Hag stripped him of the captaincy, admitting that the Englishman was no longer in his plans.
Maguire is currently in the final year of his contract at Old Trafford and has yet to sign a new deal. According to reports from *The Sun*, Saudi Pro League clubs are monitoring the defender’s situation closely and are prepared to offer him a lucrative contract reportedly worth around £500,000 per week. Despite this, Maguire is said to be keen on staying at Manchester United.
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**About the Author**
Sripad is a veteran football journalist at Sportskeeda with around 10 years of experience. His passion for writing began in class XI with blogs, and his love for football started in the early 2000s while watching matches with his cousins. A lifelong Chelsea fan, Sripad frequently follows the Premier League along with other leagues such as the MLS, Saudi Pro League, Eredivisie, and Liga MX.
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https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-what-manchester-united-hero-wayne-rooney-say-harry-maguire-a-meme-years-winning-goal-liverpool
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