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Harry Maguire says he respected the decision of the owners of Leicester City not to sell him to Manchester United.

The City defender expected there to be speculation following his superb World Cup with England and United did approach City to ask about his availability, but Leicester were adamant the big defender would not be for sale.

Maguire said it had been easy to ignore the off-field speculation and focus on returning to action with City after a short summer break and he maintained his eye-catching form of Russia with an added-time winner at Southampton.

“Definitely,” said Maguire when asked if it was easy to block out all the media noise.

“I want to be on the pitch, whether it is for someone else or for Leicester.

“There was always going to be interest over the summer after the team doing so well in Russia.

“The owners reiterated I was not for sale and I respected their decision.

“They gave me the opportunity to play for this club, such a good club on the rise and I respected their decision.

“My mind was fully on Leicester since then.”

Maguire admitted it was a little difficult at first to get back to club football after the euphoria of England’s march to the World Cup semi-finals, and he now attracts a lot more attention from the public, but he vowed not to let the spotlight change him.

“Difficult? Maybe a little bit,” he said of returning to City.

“It was a whirlwind of a summer followed by a short break that was needed.

“As a footballer, I want to play. I’m not a training guy, I love being out there, I love playing. A week’s training and then the Manchester United game, that’s what I wanted.

“Last year I did not miss a Premier League minute. I want to play week in week out and I feel like that’s important.

“My life has not really changed, I still do the same things week in week out, train the same way and play the same way.

“I get recognised more when I’m out, more photos, more autographs but I still do the same thing.

"I live the same way and perform the same way. It has not really changed much apart from recognition.”

Maguire’s celebrations sparked memorable scenes as City celebrated his late winner, earning Maguire a yellow card for removing his shirt, and he admitted the joy of scoring such an important goal felt just as good as the praise heaped on him and England in the summer.

“It was massive, the adrenaline rush,” said Maguire.

“It was a big moment for myself and one that I will never forget, last minute and as a centre-half you don’t get many chances to score like that.

(Image: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

"Scoring the winner in front of the away fans, it doesn’t get much better than that.

“It was a great moment for myself, a big adrenaline rush, but most importantly it was a good three points for the team to set us up for the season. We should be looking up rather than down.

“Everyone has a celebration now but the adrenaline took over.

“Taking my shirt off cost me a yellow card, maybe in a few days I will regret it but at the moment it does not bother me.”