The report says Maguire had rebuilt momentum after regaining some standing following Michael Carrick’s arrival in January. Even so, Thomas Tuchel went in a different direction, opting for names including Dan Burn and Jarell Quansah.
That matters because this was not framed as a player drifting quietly out of contention. It was a decision that appears to have cut against Maguire’s own view of his season and his likely role this summer. In a social media post, he said he was “surprised” and “devastated”, adding that he believed he could have had an important part to play for England.
The response around Maguire has been unusually public. He wished the squad well, but the emotional tone was unmistakable. His wife, Fern, said she was “devastated” and that it was a shame he was at the mercy of “a single opinion”. His mother, Zoe, went further, saying she was “absolutely disgusted” and calling the situation “shameful”.
Those comments matter because they show this was not treated internally as a marginal call. It landed like a major snub.
If the reported TV role is confirmed, Maguire would remain close to the tournament through a show built around Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, with 40 episodes planned during the competition.
The next angle to watch is simple: whether Maguire turns that visibility into a reset. A media role could keep him in the spotlight, but the bigger question is how he responds once the new season starts and the battle for club and country resumes.