Harry Maguire insists it will be Manchester United’s decision whether to strip him of the club captaincy.
The England international was arrested and convicted of aggravated assault and attempted bribery in a Greek court this week following a brawl at a Mykonos bar last Friday.
Maguire has been granted a retrial but the initial guilty verdict prompted Gareth Southgate to remove the centre-back from his England squad that play next month.
The defender became captain at United halfway through his debut season at Old Trafford and has denied all the charges against him, insisting he was targeted by police and ‘feared for his life’.
United have so far stood by Maguire during his troubles and the 27-year-old was asked if it was appropriate for him to remain as captain of the club.
‘It is such a huge honour to be captain of Manchester United – something I am really proud of,’ he told the BBC. ‘It is a massive privilege to play for the club, never mind captain.
‘It is not my decision to make but the one thing I will say is how supportive the club has been from top to bottom.
‘They have been great with me and I thank them for that.’
‘I know what happened that night. I know the truth,’ he added.
‘When I speak about it I get worked up but that’s because it just makes me feel a bit angry inside. I will move on. I am mentally strong enough.’
United do not expect a swift resolution to Maguire’s case, but the original conviction has been quashed and the player is free to travel internationally with the squad.
‘We got down on our knees, put our hands in the air,’ Maguire explained, saying police in plain clothes stopped their mini bus and pulled him and his friends out.
‘And they just started hitting us. They got one of my hands in the handcuff.
‘They were hitting my legs, saying my career’s over – “no more football; you won’t play again”.
‘At this point I thought there’s no chance these are police. I’ve no idea who they are. So I tried to run away.
‘I had one hand in the handcuff – I was moving my hand.
‘This is where the charges have come from – this is what they are saying is resisting arrest and this is what the assault is – no punches have been thrown. I didn’t believe they were the police.’
