30 January 2024 , 22:14
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Gary Neville has warned England footballer Marcus Rashford to calm down after the striker missed training following a 12-hour drinking session.
Neville added Manchester United star Rashford, 26, may have got the hairdryer treatment from legendary club boss Sir Alex Ferguson if he was still in charge. Rashford was described by bar staff as being “on a mission to get drunk” during a bender in Belfast last week.
A waitress claimed the star passed out fully clothed before he reportedly got a 7am private jet back to Manchester and called in sick instead of being at training that day. Rashford was then omitted from the club’s squad for the FA Cup win against Newport County on Sunday and fined £650,000, which is two weeks’ wages.
Former United and England defender Neville, 48, said he had previously warned Rashford after his birthday night out to a Manchester nightclub in October hours after being thrashed at home by local rivals Man City. It was only three days before United had another match.
Gary Neville gives advice to Rashford (PA)Gary told the BBC : “Going for a 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 Chinawhite, I think, for his birthday and we had a game against Newcastle on the Wednesday and I said, ‘choose your time’. 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. [Sir Alex] would’ve given him a dressing down but he would’ve said similar things... ‘make sure you do it at the right time’.
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“Marcus himself knows. He’s an experienced player... 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. He’s going through a dip in form, 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 life?’ He just needs to relax and calm down.”
Rashford got an MBE in 2020 for services to vulnerable children after campaigning to help hungry youngsters. The star, who was 17 when he learned to read, has also launched the Marcus Rashford Book Club.
Witnesses who saw him in Belfast last week claimed he had been arguing with a woman who was seemingly accusing him of kissing someone else. A waitress claimed Rashford flew to the city for two nights to meet a friend on a whim and was downing tequila. The waitress also alleged it appeared Rashford had “made his mind up” he was not going to training. He returned to training on Monday.