Marcus Rashford has been labelled ‘unprofessional’ by former Manchester United defender Gary Neville after he attended a New York Knicks basketball game during the international break.
It’s not the first time the 27-year-old has chosen to prioritise a social event over his football preparation. He was disciplined by former boss Erik ten Hag earlier this year after a bender in Belfast ahead of an FA Cup tie.
Neville called him out then and the Red Devils icon has blasted the player’s latest jaunt in the USA too. Rashford posted pictures on Instagram as he chose to attend a Knicks game across the pond alongside team-mate Casemiro, rather than rest ahead of the return of the Premier League and his first training sessions under new manager Ruben Amorim.
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Both players need to impress the Portuguese boss if they want to keep their place in the United side, with Rashford scoring just once in 11 league games this season. Speaking on the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, Neville questioned their decision to attend the game given United’s position in the table.
“The professionalism, looking after your body and making sure you’re best prepared for the next training session is critical to every decision you make during the season,” Neville explained.
(Image: NBAE via Getty Images)
“He [Marcus Rashford] has got a mental break, he’s got to get away and has got to rest with friends – then you talk about the choice of venue, how far do you fly, what’s the time difference, is that going to give a jet lag issue, is that going to give a stiffness issue from being on a flight for 12 hours?
“If you are talking about the minor details in being as professional as you can be and as prepared you can be for a training session on a Monday night, that isn’t the best choice of venue.”
While Rashford was technically off-duty, criticism hasn’t stopped flying his way, which will hurt his confidence as he attempts to find form and help the Red Devils qualify for Europe next season.
(Image: NBAE via Getty Images)
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Neville added: “They went to Portland, and I’m asking the question based on professionalism – you’re playing badly, the team are losing, you’re 13th in the league, and a new manager is coming in – would you choose that trip as a break to recharge your batteries? That’s not a recharging trip. It’s not right that.”
Surprisingly Neville’s ex-team-mate Roy Keane, who has a reputation for high standards, offered a different view saying players are used to regular long-haul travel these days.
“For [Marcus] Rashford and all these lads, going to the United States and going on private jets, whatever they are doing – like basketball, that’s the norm for them. We’re sitting there and going, ‘all the way to the States?’ They [players] would think the States is no big deal,” Keane said.