Manchester United

Manchester United players 'angry with Marcus Rashford after nightclub saga'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 30 January 2024

Man Utd players 'angry with Rashford after nightclub saga'

Members of Manchester United's first-team squad are reportedly left angry with Marcus Rashford after the recent nightclub saga involving the forward.

Members of Manchester United's first-team squad have reportedly been left angry with the recent nightclub saga involving Marcus Rashford.

Ahead of Sunday's FA Cup fourth round tie at Newport County, Rashford had produced his best form of the season after a disappointing campaign.

However, after contributing a goal or assist in four successive fixtures, the long-serving forward was a notable absentee from the squad that travelled to South Wales.

The initial reason given was illness, the player calling in sick on Friday morning, but it later emerged that he had spent an unauthorised period in a Belfast nightclub.

Rather than return after an authorised visit on Wednesday, the 26-year-old spent a second night in the Northern Ireland capital, allegedly returning in the early hours of Friday morning when he had been due to report for training.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pictured before the match on October 21, 2023 © Reuters

Head coach Erik ten Hag acknowledged at the weekend that the matter 'would be dealt with', and United have since released a statement to say that Rashford had 'taken responsibility for his actions'.

United have added that Rashford remains available for selection for Thursday's Premier League fixture away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Nevertheless, according to a report in The Sun, several of his teammates have been left disappointed by his behaviour last week.

Their anger allegedly stems from it being claimed that Rashford had been ill, rather than the real reason being revealed at the time.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on December 2, 2023 © Reuters

A separate source told the Daily Mail: "The players were told he was too ill to train, and then it came out that he'd been in the nightclub. They couldn't believe that he would do that given the situation the club is in."

That outlet adds that it is unclear whether Rashford had been fined the maximum two weeks wages, which would equate to approximately £630,000.

In Rashford's absence, United recorded a 4-2 victory over Newport to set up a fifth-round showdown at either Bristol City or Nottingham Forest.

With Anthony Martial out injured until at least April, Ten Hag is reliant on Rashford providing competition for Rasmus Hojlund down the middle of the attack.