Manchester United's Harry Maguire was told that bombs would explode at his family home unless he stood down as the club's captain.
Cheshire Constabulary were called out to the central defender's house in Wilmslow following the Old Trafford club's heavy 4-0 loss at Anfield on Tuesday evening in the Premier League. Police officers and a specialist police explosives dog were sent to the property, where the England star lives with his fiancee Fern Hawkins and their daughters and carried out a search, but nothing was found.
It has been reported by The Mirror that the 29-year-old was told as part of the threat that the devices would be detonated if he kept the captain's armband at United. Detectives are now searching for the person who made the threat, which is believed to have come via email.
Read more: Harry Maguire receives bomb threat after Manchester United's 4-0 loss at Anfield
The defender has been criticised for his performances this season during what has been a lacklustre campaign for United. He came under more fire on Tuesday evening from pundits including former United captain Roy Keane.
It is understood Maguire and his family were left shaken by the ordeal which came just hours after the match against Liverpool ended. His partner Fern is believed to have been extremely distressed by the situation and has been comforted by family back home in Sheffield.
But Maguire has told his teammates he has no intention of leaving Old Trafford. And he is expected to defiantly lead his team on to the pitch as they take on Arsenal in tomorrow's (April 23) lunchtime kick-off in London.
United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick insisted yesterday the club would be doing everything they could to support him. He said: “This is another bad sign of the crazy world we’re living in. Obviously I feel very sorry for Harry that he had that terrible experience, but he knows that we’re all behind him - the club, the players, his teammates.”
On Thursday a spokesman for the footballer said: “In the last 24 hours, Harry has received a serious threat to his family home. He has reported this to the police who are now looking into the matter. The safety of his family is obviously Harry’s number one priority.”
