Wayne Rooney reveals Marcus Rashford's 'embarrassing' reality at Man Utd training
Wayne Rooney admits that Marcus Rashford's exiled training at Manchester United is 'embarrassing' and 'sad' as the 27-year-old vies for a move away from Old Trafford.
Since Ruben Amorim's arrival in November, Rashford has gone from scoring three goals in the Portuguese manager's first two games, to being ousted from first-team contention on the back of reported poor training ground performances.
The Englishman hasn't featured in the club's last 12 matches, and with the January transfer window coming to a close, he is looking increasingly likely to depart his boyhood club. United icon Rooney has now chimed in, revealing that on a recent visit to Carrington, Rashford's excluded training sessions appeared 'embarrassing.'
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"I've spoken to Marcus a couple of times and given him my thoughts and my opinion, I said you need to leave the football club," Rooney stated, appearing on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. "Because whatever is going on in his life at Manchester United, he's not the same. It's not him.
"I went to Carrington on Sunday to take my kids. And Marcus was out on the training pitch with the fitness coach. But, he was right over where the parents were for the kids' games. I remember looking. I was thinking, 'If that was me, how embarrassing is it that the parents are walking past?'
"For him to have a fresh start, he needs to leave the club. The fact that your managers come out saying you're not training right is crazy. When, it’s well known I asked Alex Ferguson to leave the club, I’d still come in and train every single day and work every single day. I think with Marcus, it's been on and off for two years. It's sad, it's really sad. You have your personal pride."
Rashford has been linked with a loan move to Barcelona this window, plus a switch to Serie A, but any transfer will mean that the club take a hit on his reported £315,000-per-week wages.
Amorim spoke about Rashford and his current situation once again in the build-up to United's final Europa League match against FCSB. "With our team and the profile of the players, imagine with a talent like Rashford, our team should be so much better," said Amorim. "But he has to change.
"If he changes, we will use a talent like Rashford, but at this moment, we have to set some standards. We are waiting for Marcus if he wants it really badly. It’s not personal against Marcus - I have to make the same rules for everybody.
"It's the same for any player. Rashford is not selected, that is my choice. He's training, he's not good enough, that's what I tell you. We are a better team with Marcus, that is clear. He is a big talent, but until it is the right moment, I will not change my mind."