The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell has shed some light on the breakdown in the relationship between Marcus Rashford and Manchester United’s head coach, Ruben Amorim.
Rashford was left out of Amorim’s matchday squad for four consecutive matches and was an unused substitute against Newcastle United on Monday.
There have been numerous reports of the player having been socialising close to matchdays and he also gave an ill-advised interview saying he wants a new challenge.
The ever-reliable Whitwell has been speaking to sources at the club to find out more about what exactly has gone on behind the scenes.
“On Saturday, December 14, in the final training session before facing Manchester City the following afternoon, Rashford put in a lacklustre display at United’s Carrington base, according to multiple sources, some of whom said he appeared fatigued,” the reporter claims.
“Claims circulated Rashford had gone out the night before — on the Friday, 48 hours before the game — with accounts reaching people at United.
“This, however, is strenuously denied by people close to the player. Rashford is also known to feel he does not behave differently from other Premier League footballers but faces much more scrutiny over his social life.
Whitwell claims Amorim’s handling of the player has been “aligned with those above him” at the club.
He cites Amorim himself speaking after the Manchester derby, saying “For so long, for example with Rash, you try a thing, it doesn’t work … Let’s continue to do the same thing? Or something different?”
One of Rashford’s reported indiscretions was a 48-hour bender in Belfast when Erik ten Hag was still the United manager.
Shortly before that, there was an incident in a training session with coach Steve McClaren, who Rashford accused of putting pressure on him, and McClaren referred the matter to Sir Dave Brailsford.
“The day after the Newport game, a Monday, Brailsford addressed United’s squad for the first time to outline the INEOS strategy, particularly in terms of raising standards across the club,” Whitwell says.
“Brailsford’s talk was in the diary rather than a reaction to Rashford’s indiscipline in Belfast, but it seemed to strike a chord with the player. He requested a one-on-one meeting with Brailsford and the pair spoke for 90 minutes.”
The reporter says that United will be looking to find an exit for Rashford this month but that it will be hard to find a club who would be willing to match his salary. The player is not keen on a move to Saudi Arabia.
He has lost two of his best friends at the club in Jadon Sancho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and although “He is close with Tyrell Malacia, [he] has tested the patience of other team-mates at times.”
Meanwhile, Rashford’s training performances have been “mixed”.
“He was unwell and off work on the Monday after the derby, before attending Button Lane, the primary school he went to, to give out gifts to children and speak in an interview about his position at United.”
The absences from training due to illness seem to have become frequent, with Amorim himself saying this week that he is once again off sick.
Feature image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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Red Billy
Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
