Harry Maguire should be demoted from his position as Manchester United captain according to one former Old Trafford star.
The England international has "too much going on in his own game" to have to take on the responsibility of donning the armband is the viewpoint of ex-United full-back Paul Parker.
Maguire has been one of United's most underwhelming performers in recent weeks during a run of form that has seen them drop points to both Burnley and Southampton as well as be eliminated from the FA Cup at home to Middlesbrough.
His decline in standards comes amid a backdrop of off-field scrutiny surrounding his relationship with United talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Maguire be stripped of the United captaincy? Comment below
The pair are thought to be in the midst of a power struggle within the dressing room after Maguire is said to have felt like his authority has been undermined by the Portuguese superstar.
Rangnick views Ronaldo, rather than Maguire, as the man to operate as a mentor and offer guidance to the younger players in United's first-team fold.
Parker believes that it would be better for all parties if Maguire had the armband taken away from him, allowing him to shift his focus entirely onto his own standards.
Speaking to Betfred, Parker said: "I don’t think Harry Maguire should be captain of Manchester United.
"I think he’s got too much going on in his own game to worry about rather than trying to lead a team which he’d only just joined and in a few seconds gets the captaincy.
"I think that was more off of his price tag rather than the side of him as a person, as a leader of men."
Parker even went as far as suggesting Maguire should be dropped from the starting line-up entirely.
He explained how by leaving Maguire out, it sets a precedent to the rest of the side that no one can get by on their name and status alone.
"Maguire wouldn’t be in my first choice back four because he’s not in form. He’s out of form," he added.
"The problem is what’s been happening with Manchester United is that there have been too many players who have played for too long who have been out of form.
"Some players have earned the right because of what they’ve done but, after a while, I just think you need to make a change, to refresh them or to make them think that they can’t just have the easy route and play week in week out."
While many have tipped Ronaldo to be the one who should take the armband off of Maguire, Parker has opted for a different candidate.
"At the moment I think the one who should be captain is the one they all respect, is David De Gea. Because to be a captain you have to respect a player.
"David De Gea has to be the most respected player in that Manchester United team because he’s the one who’s actually kept them in the position to be fourth in the league at this moment in time."
