Reportedly, Marcus Rashford’s trip to Belfast still lingers in the minds of some of his Manchester United colleagues, with the incident allegedly undermining his standing within the team.
Earlier this year, the England international stirred controversy by feigning illness to skip training before an FA Cup match against Newport County, only for it to be revealed that he had been out partying in Belfast shortly beforehand.
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Following his exposure, Rashford faced consequences as manager Erik ten Hag dropped him from the squad and imposed a hefty fine of £650,000.
Despite his swift return to the team and an impressive goal scored in the recent Manchester derby, reports surfaced last week suggesting a strained relationship between Rashford and Ten Hag.
Beyond the rift with his manager, the incident appears to have left a lasting impact within the dressing room.
According to the Daily Mail, several of Rashford’s colleagues still feel disappointed by his actions, particularly his attempt to misrepresent the timing of his nightclub outing as occurring before a scheduled day off, when it actually took place 24 hours later, just before training.
As a local talent and one of the team’s most seasoned players, with 392 appearances for the Red Devils, Rashford has historically held significant influence in the dressing room.
However, his stature as a senior figure within the squad has now been tarnished, and some teammates question his credibility as a leader.
Several players echo Ten Hag’s negative perspective on Rashford’s conduct and continue to feel disappointed, despite Rashford’s recent article in the Players’ Tribune, where he criticized anyone doubting his dedication to United.
‘When I make a mistake, I’ll be the first one to put my hand up and say that I need to do better,’ he wrote in a piece for the Players’ Tribune website.
‘But if you ever question my commitment to Man United, that’s when I have to speak up. It’s like somebody questioning my entire identity, and everything I stand for as a man.
‘I grew up here. I have played for this club since I was a boy. My family turned down life-changing money when I was a kid so I could wear this badge.
‘I can take any criticism. I can take any headline. From podcasts, social media and the papers. I can take it.
‘But if you start questioning my commitment to this club and my love for football and bringing my family into it, then I’d simply ask you to have a bit more humanity.’
In the Manchester derby, Rashford scored his sixth goal of the Premier League season, which has been deemed disappointing as he has struggled to match his performance levels from last season, where he contributed to 22 goals.
