Harry Maguire is set to join Manchester United's pre-season tour in the United States, allaying concerns after he was initially absent due to a personal matter. The 32-year-old defender was not part of the 32-man squad that flew out on Tuesday, but he has assured fans that he will be joining his teammates on Wednesday.
Maguire's absence from the initial traveling squad raised eyebrows, especially after he played in the friendly draw against Leeds United on Saturday. He was introduced at halftime but was later replaced in the 74th minute. The club clarified that his delayed arrival was due to a personal matter, not an injury, and expressed hope that he would join the team soon.
Maguire himself addressed the situation via an Instagram story, stating, "All is fine now. I will be traveling tomorrow to meet up with the squad. Thanks for your concern". This confirmation has reassured fans and the club, as Maguire is considered a key member of the team.
Manchester United's pre-season tour includes participation in the Premier League Summer Series, with matches scheduled against West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton. The team will be based in Chicago and will play their first match against Bournemouth at Soldier Field on July 30th. They will also play against West Ham in New Jersey on Saturday evening and against Everton in Atlanta on August 3rd. The tour will conclude with a friendly against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9.
Several other players were also absent from the initial traveling squad. Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia have been excluded as they are reportedly seeking new clubs and training separately from the first team. Marcus Rashford is also not on the tour as he is expected to move to Barcelona.
New signings Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Diego Leon are part of the traveling squad. Mbeumo's move from Brentford was finalized on Monday for a fee that could rise to £71 million. Cunha joined United from Wolverhampton Wanderers last month. Lisandro Martinez is also included in the squad as he continues his rehabilitation from a cruciate ligament injury. However, he is not yet ready for team training.
