Man Utd star already had 'severe telling off' from Ruben Amorim's new leadership group

Tom Heaton has revealed that he's already had to give a "b********g" to one of his Manchester United team-mates. Heaton, along with Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire, are the three players from the old United leadership group who have been included in a new one, set up by Ruben Amorim.

The goalkeeper, who turns 40 next year, signed a one-year contract with United in June and continues to be a key voice in the dressing room. The latest additions to the group are Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui. The group is a diverse mix of three players in their thirties and three in their twenties, representing four countries across three continents.

The average age of this group is about 30, and it has now been revealed that the veteran shotstopper has already criticised one of his Red Devils peers.

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"They are responsible for the group," Amorim clarified when asked about his leadership selection. "There are some things that in the last year I had to deal with. I said to them this year, you deal with that. Small issues are with you guys. You are responsible. All these small changes, I think it's helping the group."

When asked if he'd had to tell any team-mates some hard truths, Heaton, a member of the old guard, chuckled: "Yes, but only naturally. It's not just about delivering sort of b********gs. I think it's also about supporting people who need it, trying to make sure we're guiding it and channelling it in the right way.

"I think he (Amorim) feels quite strongly about having a group of players that have a strong influence on the dressing room. It provides a little bit of support to Bruno in that respect. That's how it came about and obviously honoured as ever to be part of that and try and have as much influence on it as I possibly can."

New member Dalot is the second-longest-serving player in the United squad behind Luke Shaw, who is now in his 12th year at the club. Shaw featured in the original eight-man group established by Erik ten Hag but managed just four appearances last season, three of which came in May.

Cristiano Ronaldo highlighted Dalot and fellow addition Martinez among three colleagues he respected at United in 2022. Casemiro, the third player mentioned, was similarly included in Ten Hag's initial leadership circle, reports the Manchester Evening News.

During the 2024 season, Dalot followed Ronaldo's footsteps by claiming the Players' Player of the Year award. A veteran presence in the squad, multilingual, seldom sidelined through injury and personable, it was clear why he secured the majority of his team-mates' backing.

"It obviously brings you even more responsibility," Dalot acknowledged. "But I think one of the reasons why that happened is because of the way I am.

"So I try to be the same person, but obviously it brings you even more responsibility because we're talking about a very good group of players with different personalities that I think we can try to create a culture where we demand the maximum from our teammates, from ourselves as well.

"But we have to be the first ones to give the example. I think that's the best way that I like to lead also. We have to be the first ones to show to everyone where we want to put the club back on top and then try to put everyone in the same. Like we say in Portugal, everyone is in the same boat.

"I think the decision was clear because obviously we're talking about six players with different personalities, but at the same time we need to start demanding more from each other, create this culture where when things are not going in the right direction, we have to be assertive and put it right."

Dalot's conditioning is so legendary that he's been absent for just 13 club matches since returning to United from a season-long stint at AC Milan in 2021. An insider revealed that Dalot "took every good trait when playing with Cristiano and only further enhanced his dedication."

Sources have highlighted the noticeable transformation in Dalot's physique compared to his unveiling snaps in June 2018. Back then, a 19-year-old Dalot was recuperating from a meniscus injury that had him out of action for three months. Now, he employs a personal chef to whip up his meals at home.

Likewise, Fernandes, who has long been part of United's leadership set-up, has been absent from just two matches due to injury in over five years, and his influence continues to be significant. In the 1-1 stalemate with Fiorentina on Saturday, for example, Fernandes encouraged Patrick Dorgu to ramp up his intensity in the 78th minute. A minute later, Dorgu was dashing into the penalty area.