Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire says he feared for his life and even thought he was being kidnapped in Greece.
Manchester United confirmed on Wednesday Maguire no longer had a criminal record and was free to travel internationally, while he waits for a full re-trial in a more senior court.
“My initial thought, I thought we were getting kidnapped. We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us,” he told BBC Sport.
“They were hitting my leg saying my career’s over, ‘No more football. You won’t play again’.
“And at this point I thought there is no chance these are police or I don’t know who they are so I tried to run away, I was in that much of a panic, fear, scared for my life. All the way through it.”
Maguire said the incident took place outside a police station after he attempted to take his sister Daisy to a hospital because she was losing consciousness having been approached by two men.
And the 27-year-old defender denied attempting to bribe the police. When asked about that, Maguire said: “No, for sure. As soon as I saw that statement, it’s just ridiculous.”
The incident led to Maguire being dropped from Gareth Southgate’s England team having initially been convicted.
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He says he has no reason to apologise for the incident but regrets causing embarrassment to Manchester United.
“It was horrible. It’s not something I ever want to do again. I don’t wish it on anybody. It’s the first time I’ve ever been inside a prison,” he said.
“I don’t feel like I owe an apology to anybody. An apology is something when you’ve done something wrong or regret. I regret being in the situation. I play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, I regret putting the fans and the club through this.
“I think it could have happened anywhere. I love Greece, I think us footballers get a bit of stick for trying to stay away from everything. It’s not how I want to live my life.”
The former Leicester star was arrested with his brother and their friend after a fight broke out in Mykonos. but he is not certain he will remain United captain,
“It’s a massive privilege to play for the club, never mind to be captain. It’s not my decision to make,” he said.
“I have great faith in the Greek law, the retrial will give us more time to prepare, gather the evidence, allow witnesses into the court. And I am really confident that the truth will be told and come out.”
