Pundits are paid to speak their mind - even if their views can sometimes spark controversy - but Paul Merson felt he went too far with his opinion of one Manchester United star
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 1: Casemiro of Manchester United celebrates scoring the first goal with team mates Harry Maguire and Bryan Mbeumo during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on February 1, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
One Sky Sports pundit has admitted to apologising to a Manchester United ace Harry Maguire over the phone(Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus/Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Former Arsenal legend Paul Merson has admitted to phoning former Manchester United captain Harry Maguire to apologise for some past criticism.
When United invested £80million to sign Maguire from Leicester City, Merson was one of the loudest critics of the deal. He slammed the ex-United skipper for having a lack of pace and describing the then record-breaking fee for a defender as "ridiculous."
The ex-Arsenal midfielder was not the only person criticising the England international's fee and subsequent performances. Nevertheless, he still felt he went too far in his criticism, subsequently deciding to reach out to Maguire personally and issue an apology over the phone.
In 2019, when the deal went through, Merson told Soccer Saturday: "Maguire for £80m is ridiculous at the highest level. You have to remember he ripped it up for England in a three.
"When you play in a three at the back, you do that for one reason only - the defenders are not good enough and you do not trust them."
Merson continued by explaining he didn't believe Maguire was capable of playing a high line when confronted with pace from the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sergio Aguero. Whilst the experienced pundit maintains his original assessment, he admitted he soon recognised he had overstepped the mark, and an apology was necessary.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Merson said: "I didn't really, I don't know what it was but when I was playing back in the day, it didn't fuss me what they (pundits) said. I've had loads of people, agents, get in touch with me and say 'you shouldn't have said that'.
Paul Merson speaking on the Stick to Football podcast
Paul Merson gave Harry Maguire some harsh criticism(Image: YouTube/Overlap)
View 3 Images
"I have rung up players before, I've rung up two players since I have been on that show to apologise. That was Harry Maguire when he signed for Man United, because I thought it was a bad signing for seventy-odd million.
"I didn't think he'd be able to play on the halfway line and I stick by that, but I just felt like I carried on. And then I was going on and on and on and I came away from the show and I thought 'nah, you're out of order.'
"I rang up Brendan Rodgers and I said, 'could you get me his number' and I rung him (Maguire) up, and he was a bit surprise,d and I said, 'You know, I am not disagreeing with the fee and if you are playing on the halfway line you might struggle.'"
Harry Maguire clapping Manchester United fans
Maguire has been a key player for Michael Carrick's side in recent games(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Maguire is not the only England international to have received an apology from Merson. Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has also checked his phone to find the Sky commentator ringing him.
Merson added: "Last season I did Arsenal vs Tottenham at the new stadium. Tottenham were atrocious that day but (James) Maddison I picked out, afterwards I thought 'why am I picking him out and not everyone else? I just said he wasn't good enough, got to be doing more.
"I am one of those, he played in my position and when you are in a 10 you have got to affect a football match, even if it's just once in the whole game. He didn't do that, but at the end of the day he's still got to get the ball off the midfield. rung him up and he said 'I haven't even seen it'."