OPINION
Harry Maguire’s price tag of £85m caused a number of brows to furrow this summer.
It was a world-record fee for a defender, more than the £76m paid for Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool.
He was the man Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted, though, the board backed him with the cash, and after his debut in the 4-0 win against Chelsea, it’s looking like a pretty astute bit of business.
David de Gea might be the captain bu Maguire, 26, ran things at the back in a manner that delighted the Old Trafford crowd.
There were concerns about his late integration into the squad after missing United’s pre-season, but you’d never have known it from his composed, confident display.
According to wyscout, Maguire won five of his six aerial duels, made 11 interceptions and seven clearances at Old Trafford.
More importantly, he was directing the United players and taking charge at the back – and that’s what the club has been sorely lacking.
Maguire wasn’t the only player who impressed.
According to WhoScored, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was the highest-rated United defender, with a score of 8.3, second only to Anthony Martial on 8.4. Maguire was given a modest 8.0.
A clean sheet and four goals against Chelsea might have been flattering for United but they fully deserved the three points and, in Maguire, they might have done one of the best bits of business of the summer window.