Harry Maguire thanks David Beckham for career advice
- Harry Maguire has revealed that David Beckham reached out to him after own goal against Scotland
- The defender has been on the receiving end of a barrage of criticism for his performances in recent years
- Man Utd defender has spoken out on this issue
Harry Maguire has thanked David Beckham for reaching to him after coming in for heavy criticism for his England performance against Scotland in September.
The defender received a torrent of abuse following England's 3-1 win over Scotland after scoring an own goal in the second half of the game at Hampden Park.
This came during an extremely difficult period in Maguire's career, having been stripped of the Man Utd captaincy by Erik ten Hag a few months prior and being the subject of heavy criticism from fans for refusing to join West Ham United after failing to agree a severance package with the Red Devils.
In the immediate aftermath of the game at Hampden Park, Maguire was under so much unnecessary scrutiny from fans and pundits alike that his mother felt the need to take to social media to release a statement calling the abuse "disgraceful and totally unacceptable to any walk of life."
Looking back on that difficult period of his career, Maguire has revealed that Manchester United and England legend David Beckham reached out to him to offer career advice and support during that time.
Like Maguire, Beckham came under extreme criticism during his playing career. In 1998, he was labelled as public enemy number one thanks to a red card he received in a defeat to Argentina at the World Cup, with England supporters disgracefully hanging an effigy of Beckham after the incident.
"I actually spoke with David about three weeks ago, after the game. He got in touch with me so it was really nice of him and I really appreciated that," Maguire said about Beckham's support.
"It meant everything. I've spoken throughout my career about David Beckham being someone I looked up to and watched when I was a young boy.
"It shows how classy he is to reach out to me and to message me. It was something I really appreciate. It was touching really."
Speaking while back on international duty with England, Maguire also said that criticism of performances is part and partial of being a top level football, and that he is looking to get "back to where he was" after a difficult period on the pitch.
"I have had some huge plaudits over the years playing for my country. Probably the last year or so hasn't been like that but the previous five I was getting loads and loads of credit," he continued
"That's football, that's the way it works. You don't just keep playing at the top and not get criticism. That doesn't happen unless you are the best in the world and that's probably Messi and Ronaldo, and even they still get criticised as well.
"There has been a lot of talk about me over the last year. For that talk to happen, you have got to have built your way up to be a top performer like I've done over the previous five years to that.
"Things haven't gone to plan over the last year or so but I am sure it will get back on track. A career is a long path. Many ups, many downs, it probably has been a little blip and I am trying to be back to where I was."
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