​The question about who should serve as vice-captain at Manchester United has been coming in thick and fast through our Ask about Man Utd form. It’s a particularly intriguing topic because Bruno Fernandes rarely misses matches and is seldom substituted, making his role as vice-captain a point of interest for supporters and pundits alike. The conversation was sparked by Fernandes’ extended spell away from the team after an injury sustained at Aston Villa last December, during which Lisandro Martínez, the Argentina defender, stepped in to wear the armband for three games. Since then, there has clearly been a change of management, which only heightens the speculation about who will wear the armband in the future.
During Fernandes’ brief absence from the field, Harry Maguire wore the captain’s armband for the limited period in which Fernandes was off and Maguire was on in stoppage time during the dramatic 3-2 win over Liverpool in May. The possibility of Maguire being appointed vice-captain would carry particular significance because Erik ten Hag had previously taken the armband from him and given it to Fernandes. That moment against Liverpool was notable in its own right because Maguire had previously declined the opportunity on other occasions, making the recent emergence of this role more interesting.
Looking at the rest of the squad, Matthijs de Ligt has a history as captain, having led Ajax as a teenager and becoming the youngest skipper in the club’s history. Diogo Dalot has also taken the armband when Fernandes departed the field at Villa Park. Michael Carrick has not publicly stated his views on the matter, but with Martínez and Dalot unavailable due to World Cup duties, Fernandes also away with Brazil for international duty, and De Ligt sidelined with injury, Maguire appears to be the most straightforward choice for the captaincy in the early pre-season games.
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