Erik ten Hag brutally snubbed Harry Maguire and refused to give him the captaincy in United's final US tour match against Borussia Dortmund - despite new club captain Bruno Fernandes not playing.
Maguire, 30, suffered an evening to forget on Sunday, as Manchester United lost 3-2 in Nevada. A brace from Donyell Malen and Youssoufa Moukoko's strike was enough for Dortmund to win the game, with Diogo Dalot and Antony scoring for Ten Hag's side.
Maguire was involved in a heated row with new United goalkeeper Andre Onana, while Ten Hag was critical of his defence at full-time. The evening only serves to cast further doubt on Maguire's future after he was stripped of the captaincy earlier this summer.
The England international is being tipped to complete a summer transfer, with West Ham seeing a £20million bid rejected. United want £50m and someone to pay his £200,000-a-week wages, but many teams simply cannot afford - or are unwilling to meet - those demands.
West Ham are unsure whether to make another bid for Maguire, who cost United £80m from Leicester four years ago. It's claimed the defender wants to join a 'bigger club' than the Hammers, with Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle thought to be interested.
World Cup hero wants Man Utd move as doubts over Harry Maguire's future grow
Maguire started just eight Premier League games last season and his confidence won't have grown after seeing Ten Hag give the armband to McTominay. Onana's blast, launched after he was forced into a save, will also enhance speculation about Maguire's future.
Ten Hag has previously suggested that he's happy to keep Maguire as a reserve for Raphael Varane. The France international has struggled with his fitness during his two years at Old Trafford and missed the defeat to Dortmund as a precaution.
Scott McTominay captained Manchester United against Borussia Dortmund... not Harry Maguire (Getty Images)Do you think Manchester United should sell Harry Maguire? Let us know in the comments below!
Yet Ten Hag's comments after Thursday's match will intrigue United fans. He criticised their "poor defending" and summarised: "Two parts - first hour [of the game was] good, well performing, playing as a team, lot of dynamic, good pressing.
"So it was really enjoyable to see. That is what I wanted to say to the team at half-time and then all of a sudden they gave two goals away and they really were giveaways. So that was already annoying but the last half an hour was bad, was a poor performance."
Maguire must play more often to ensure he's part of Gareth Southgate's squad for the Euros, which take place in Germany next summer. Southgate has stuck by the centre-back during this tricky period but is under pressure to pick other stars.
Ten Hag has previously discussed the decision to take the armband from Maguire and give it to Fernandes. He said: "It is disappointing for a player, but it can actually work out well for the team and for Harry.
"He stays an important player. He can fight himself into the team. He has potential and it's up to him to get his position. Now he can focus more on his role, but a centre-back has to communicate and organise. It's a big area where you have to perform as a centre-half."
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