Harry Maguire named new full-time Man Utd captain with Ashley Young joining Inter Milan in £1.2m transfer

MANCHESTER UNITED have confirmed Harry Maguire as their new club captain ahead of Ashley Young's departure to Inter Milan.

Full-back Young is set to complete a £1.2million transfer away from Old Trafford, six months before his contract expires.

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With Young out the team, £85million summer signing Maguire has been filling in with the armband.

And now the Red Devils will hand the 26-year-old the full-time responsibility starting with Sunday's game at Liverpool.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer announced the decision in his Friday press conference after SunSport revealed the imminent confirmation.

David De Gea, Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford are to back up the centre-back as part of the boss' leadership group.

Solskjaer said: "Harry is wearing the captain's armband and will keep wearing it, he's been a leader in the group.

"I've been impressed by his leadership skills, so he will continue wearing the armband.

"He's come in and everything about him tells me he's a leader, he's part of a group we've had that have been leading this young group, David, Marcus, Harry, so Harry will keep on wearing the armband."

In the summer, SunSport told of how an optimistic Maguire wanted to mimic idols Steve Bruce and Rio Ferdinand and now he is getting his chance.

TAKE THE ASH AND RUN

Young became subject to interest from Inter Milan earlier in the month and his desire to move led to him being left out the team.

After eight-and-a-half years in Manchester, the winger turned defender will today have a medical to seal his exit.

Solskjaer confirmed that a two-year contract offer was on the table from Antonio Conte's team, where he is seen as an ideal fit to the Italian's 3-5-2 system.

United made a play to keep the 34-year-old but only offered a 12-month extension.

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He added: "To be fair, I think it was for Ashley, he's 35 in the summer and if he gets a two-year contract somewhere I think it's up to him to take that.

"We weren’t ready to offer that, he's been a good servant, captain, won trophies, league cups, but we've got players coming through and when Ashley's head and mindset was on so why not now."

Young was named captain in the summer after Antonio Valencia left the club.

But his departure comes in acrimonious circumstances after he stormed out of training in a bid to force through the move.

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