The most expensive defender in the world was given a suspended 21 month 10-day sentence on Tuesday, after an appeal was lodged by Maguire’s legal team. The conviction was overturned pending a retrial in a higher court.

Last week, whilst holidaying in Mykonos with his family, Maguire was allegedly thrown off a minibus and repeatedly hit on the legs by plain-clothes policemen. Fearing that he was the victim of an attempted kidnapping, Maguire tried to escape, even though one hand was handcuffed.

Macquire claims he was not aware that the men were police officers as they were not in uniform and did not identify themselves as such. It was alleged that he not only resisted arrest but also tried to repeatedly cause bodily harm and bribe the public employees.

Macguire was shocked and described the guilty verdict as "horrible" and that he "couldn't quite believe it". The centre back, denies the charges implicitly, adding: "I don't feel I owe an apology to anybody”. "An apology is something when you have done something wrong."

He does, however, deeply regrets putting his fans and club through this ordeal.

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