Wayne Rooney has labelled the supporters who booed Harry Maguire "not real England fans" in a staunch defence of the under-fire Manchester United captain.
Rooney, himself a former Red Devils skipper and established international, has backed Maguire to bounce back from the hostile reception he received at Wembley before Tuesday's 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast. Speaking to The Sun, the Derby County boss declared: "I've been there. It's never nice when you're booed by your own fans.
"Harry's a top lad and a top professional. I know Harry personally. I spoke to him not long ago and he's a strong character, he's strong-minded. I've spoken to him a few times as a friend and we've had a general chat, but I'm not his mentor. I'm sure the people who were booing him are not real England fans. Because as a fan, you go there to get behind the team. I don't think any England fans are concerned about his form for United as long as he's doing well for England."
Rooney knows all about conflict with Three Lions supporters, having infamously hit back at boos following England's dismal 0-0 draw with Algeria at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. "Nice to see your own fans booing you, that's what loyal support is," the ex-striker said into a camera while trudging off the pitch.
Maguire, under intense scrutiny for his poor club performances this season, has been backed by plenty of Three Lions teammates and boss Gareth Southgate, who described the jeers as "an absolute joke." "I don't know how it benefits anybody. We're either all in it together or we're not," Southgate told a post-match news conference.
"I imagine if you asked a few of them why they did it they probably wouldn't even be able to answer. It's mob mentality. One end of the ground you have a hardcore group trying to get his name sung — it wasn't everybody. Players will look at that and think, that could be me. It makes players not want to come. It has happened in the past with John Barnes.
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"We need Harry to do well. We aren't going to win a World Cup with a load of players with three or four caps. That's never happened in the history of the game." And the 28-year-old's manager at United, Ralf Rangnick, offered a show of support ahead of Leicester City's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday, Maguire's former club.
"I haven't spoken to him yet, but I speak regularly with him since I've been here and he knows my position towards him," Rangnick explained when asked about his defender. "He's been a very valuable player for the team and the club, the captain. I didn't understand what happened at Wembley, it won't happen in our stadium with the Red Army.
"He's been playing well for Manchester United and England in the last couple of years. Gareth Southgate said something after the game and Harry Kane. I didn't watch the game but I heard what had happened after they announced the starting line-up. It's difficult to understand."
