‘Van Dijk was Liverpool’s last piece, Maguire is Man Utd’s first’

Neill Collins, who worked with the world's most expensive defender at Sheffield United, is backing him to go from strength to strength at Old Trafford


Comparisons between Virgil van Dijk and Harry Maguire are unfair, says Neill Collins, arguing the £80 million ($97m) asset is just the first piece in the Manchester United puzzle, whereas the Dutch star at Anfield was the last for Jurgen Klopp.

A former Sheffield United team-mate of Maguire told The Telegraph: “He’ll be compared to Van Dijk but I think Van Dijk was the final piece of the jigsaw at Liverpool, whereas I’d argue Harry is one of the first pieces in this jigsaw at United, which is a really big ask.

“They’ve not got a great side, and I think Harry’s got a lot on his shoulders, but he is up there with the best in the world in that position and, as they improve as a team, I think he will go from strength to strength.”

“Maybe these players have to go to a Southampton or Leicester to really prove themselves to the big clubs but he definitely ended up costing United a lot more money.”

Bruce said: “I think the biggest compliment you can pay Harry is he improves year after year.

“He has excelled in every environment he’s been put in.”

“It’s almost abnormal how strong he is – and damn right it hurts when he catches you.

“His feet are massive. He must be a size 16 or something. And when he stands on your foot... He’s so powerful that when he comes towards you with the ball you’re thinking, ‘I’m not tackling that!’”