Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire has accepted an apology from Ghanaian MP Isaac Adongo who mocked him in 2022.
The opposition lawmaker, while debating the budget last year, had compared Vice-President Mahamadu Bawumia’s economic management to Maguire’s performances on the pitch.
In the viral video, Adongo had referred to the England defender as the biggest threat at the centre of Manchester United’s defence.
However, while debating the budget this week on Tuesday, Adongo heaped praises on Maguire, lauding him for his recent performances.
He went ahead to apologise to the former Leicester defender, hailing him as a transformational footballer.
“Last year I was very quick to compare my big brother Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to Harry Maguire. Mr Speaker, I now apologise to Harry Maguire.
“Today Maguire has turned the corner and he is a transformational footballer. Maguire is now scoring goals for Manchester United. He is now a key player for Manchester United…as for our ‘Maguire’, he is now roaming at the IMF with a cup in hand,” he said.
Maguire swiftly accepted the apology and wrote: “MP Issac Adongo apology accepted. See you at Old Trafford soon.”
The English defender has been a consistent starter for Man Utd in recent weeks following long-term injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw and has put in decent shifts.
Last season, the former England captain came under heavy criticism from the fans and media alike after he made several high-profile errors in crucial moments.
England head coach Gareth Southgate, however, jumped to his defence, saying he was being treated unfairly.
“There has been ridiculous treatment of him for a long period of time - It’s a joke. I’ve never known a player treated the way he is by our own pundits. It’s beyond anything I’ve ever seen.
"He's been an absolute stalwart for us in the second most successful team for decades. He's been an absolute key part of that,” said Southgate.
His criticism also drew the attention of his mum Zoe after Maguire was targeted by fans during England’s win over Scotland at Hampden Park.
“As a mum seeing the level of negative and abusive comments which my son is receiving from some fans, pundits and the media is disgraceful and totally unacceptable to any walk of life, never mind someone who works his socks off for club and country.
“I was there in the stand [at Hampden] as usual. It’s not acceptable what’s been created, over nothing. I understand that in the football world there are ups and downs, positives and negatives but what Harry receives has gone far beyond ‘football’,” she wrote.
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