30 January 2024 , 12:15
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Gary Neville has warned Marcus Rashford to "calm down" on his booze-fuelled nights out and claimed he would have got a "dressing down" if legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge.
Manchester United hero Neville said he had already warned Rashford, 26, about "choices and timing" after his birthday night out in October. The England star was heavily criticised after heading on a night out just hours after his side's chastening derby defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Neville's comments come after news broke that Rashford angered fellow team-mates and boss Erik Ten Hag after missing training last week following a 12-hour drinking session in Belfast.
The striker was seen by bar staff downing shots of Limoncello and tequila appearing "determined to get drunk" before calling in sick for training on Friday. He has since been fined two weeks wages by United and didn't feature in the FA Cup win at Newport on Sunday.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast Gary Neville said: "That happened quite a bit when I was at the club.
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"Going out for a drink and night out is something most football players should do and will do. I've got no problem with that but it's about choices and timing.
"I said this after the Man City game, we got beat at home. I think he went out that night to China White I think for his birthday and we had a game against Newcastle on the Wednesday in the Carabao Cup and I said look, choose your time.
Erik ten Hag has a decision to make over Marcus Rashford vs Wolves this week (Getty Images)"I think Manchester United had just had a winter break and a couple of weeks off so there was a better moment for him to choose to go out."
Speaking about Sir Alex, Gary added: "He would have given him a dressing down but he would have said similar things - make sure you do it at the right time.
"Marcus himself knows, he's an experienced player, we're not talking about a young lad. But he has done it a couple of times in the last few months. I've always seen Marcus as really responsible, a good professional, someone who works hard every single day.
"He's going through a dip in form at the moment... but it can become your personality if you're not careful.
"If you do it too many times people can start to say 'what's happening in his lie'. He just needs to relax and calm down."
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