Fans joke Harry Maguire is auditioning for the Olympics after ’embarrassing’ dive in box for Man Utd against Fulham

HARRY MAGUIRE is already in hot water with fans – after an outrageous dive.

The Manchester United defender was even accused of auditioning too late for a spot on this summer’s Olympics springboard – when hoping to win a penalty against Fulham.

Harry Maguire sparked controversy after his reaction to a challenge from Fulham new boy Emile Smith Rowe in the first Prem game of the season

Maguire went down easily, appearing to scream too

Over he goes, as Maguire makes the most of his moment in the box

Maguire missed Euro 2024 through injury but was paired alongside Lisandro Martinez in United’s defence for Friday night’s Premier League opener.

And fans joked he might have made Paris 2024 – if the plunge he made at Old Trafford had come a couple of months earlier.

Maguire tumbled over in the box far too easily when Fulham new boy Emile Smith Rowe extended a leg late in the first half.

The centre-back flung both arms out in front of him with his mouth wide open in apparent pain as he fell to the deck.

Despite his protests, Maguire was booked for simulation.

And former Red Devils’ defender Gary Neville described the incident as a “little bit awkward”.

Nev then spelt his feelings out more frankly by calling it a “dive” and adding: “Maguire throws himself to the ground.”

In fact, just days after the Paris Games ended, one fan pointed out on X: “Hey yo Maguire the Olympics are done mate no need to dive.”

Maguire saw yellow as he was booked for a move that many fans reckon should also have left him with a red face

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A second observer urged someone to let the star know “the Olympic gold for diving was already won last week”.  

And a third viewer wrote: “Harry Maguire diving… What a start.”

But the 63-cap ace also won plaudits for his general display in a 1-0 victory sneaked late on by sub Joshua Zirkzee.

And although Maguire’s dive made waves, he won sizeable praise too – for what might be considered the opposite manoeuvre to taking a plunge.

One admirer suggested: “Harry Maguire winning a big header is one of the most beautiful sights in the natural world. It’s like seeing a breaching humpback whale.”

That certainly blows a hole through all the criticism he gets.