Rio Ferdinand has suggested that Harry Maguire might need to leave Manchester United to reignite his career.

Maguire has struggled to show his best form for the Red Devils this season, with the 29-year-old being widely criticised for his performances during the 2021-22 campaign.

The centre-back will captain the team for the remainder of the season but his long-term future is unclear.

Ferdinand has said that Maguire has been "phenomenal" for England but might need to leave Old Trafford in order to thrive once again, comparing his situation to Gerard Pique's during the Spaniard's time in Manchester in the early stages of his career.

"In an England shirt he's been nothing but phenomenal. He's been unreal. You can't say he's a dead player, he's been unbelievable for England," Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel FIVE.

"What I'm saying is, for England he's been great, but they play a particular way of football that probably suits him. Gerard Pique was at Man Utd, you could argue that he might not have had the career that he's had at Barcelona if he stayed at Man Utd because of the way he plays.

"It's like boxing, styles make fights – it's the same in football. The way of Man Utd's football, and the way that they are trying to play, hasn't suited him.

"Also form and confidence. His confidence has taken a big knock and I don't care who you are, you could be [Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Zinedine] Zidane, [Kylian] Mbappe all these players – if their confidence is low they are not the same player."

Maguire has scored twice in 33 appearances for Man United this season, while he has represented the club on 166 occasions since arriving from Leicester City in August 2019.