Legendary Arsenal player Paul Merson has admitted he apologized to Manchester United's Harry Maguire over the phone after criticizing the England international "a bit too far.

Maguire moved to Manchester United in the summer of 2019 for a reported £80 million, making him the most expensive defender in transfer history.

The 29-year-old has not always had it easy at Manchester United and has frequently been the target of criticism from both the public and the media.

When the deal to Old Trafford was completed, Merson expressed shock at the fee the Red Devils paid for the defender, calling it "ridiculous".

Speaking to Sky Sports in 2019, Merson said: “£80m for Maguire is ridiculous at the highest level.”

Merson regrets his comments, revealing he called Maguire on the phone to apologise after getting his contact from Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers.

“I don’t want to be right on that – I’d rather be wrong,” Merson told The Telegraph.

“I want England to win the World Cup and Harry Maguire to score the winning goal.

“It was just my opinion." I rang up Brendan Rodgers and said, "Can you get me Harry Maguire’s number?" I didn’t feel comfortable with myself.

I needed to ring him and say, ‘I don’t agree with the £80m but I shouldn’t have said that and I’m sorry.' I went a little bit too far.’

“He couldn’t believe it. They probably thought it was a joke. I don’t think he has had a fair crack. He’s struggling and he’s playing on the left when he’s right-footed. "