Friends fear Marcus Rashford is in self-destruct mode as Manchester United managers are concerned about his lifestyle.
Manchester United's coaching staff are concerned that Marcus Rashford's lifestyle will have a negative impact on his form, talkSPORT understands.
The striker missed the FA Cup victory over Newport County on Sunday, having been pictured partying in Belfast a few days earlier.
Man United manager Erik ten Hag said the player was ill for team training on Friday, however it later emerged that Rashford had visited Thompsons Garage nightclub in the Northern Ireland town the night before.
The 26-year-old was not involved in the matchday squad for Man United's trip to South Wales and reported to training on Monday for talks with Ten Hag and director of football John Murtough about his recent conduct.
In a statement, United said that Rashford 'has taken responsibility for his actions' and that the Belfast incident had been “dealt with internally”.
Sources close to the player told talkSPORT that the player is in “complete self-destruct mode” and some fear. RashfordEngland's inner circle has too much power over the England international.
Sun published details of Rashford's night out where he was reported to have “collapsed on a hotel bed fully clothed just before 3am” after drinking over a 12-hour period.
However, the report adds that a source close to Rashford insists he left the nightclub at 1.15am.
The report also says Rashford took a private plane back to Manchester at 7am on Friday before phoning in sick.
Rashford is said to be fined two weeks' wages for his misdemeanours.
Rashford's rash behavior
- December 2022: Rashford is late for duty on the morning of Man United's victory over Wolves. Ten Hag drops him, but he comes on in the second half and scores the only goal of the game.
- October 2023: Rashford celebrates with friends at Manchester's Chinawhite nightclub hours after Man United's resounding 3-0 defeat to Man City. Ten Hag warns Rashford about his “unacceptable” behaviour.
- January 2024: Rashford is seen enjoying himself at a Belfast nightclub and calls in sick before the next morning's training session. He was subsequently left out of the matchday squad for Man United's trip to Newport.
The questioning of Rashford's off-field conduct has been a topic of late after he was criticized for Partying in a Manchester nightclub. hours after Man United's 3-0 home defeat to rivals Manchester City in October.
Meanwhile, he was ruled out of Man United's trip to Wolves in December 2022 for arriving late for the matchday. He ended up scoring the winning goal after being substituted in the second half by Ten Hag.
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Rashford, however, has received wide praise for his tireless work ensuring the government provides free school meals to vulnerable young people in England over the holidays during the COVID pandemic, something for which he received an MBE.
It has been suggested that this distracted him and contributed to a lack of form on the pitch; However, talkSPORT understands that his free school meals campaign has been key to maintaining structure in his life.
Rashford has also spoke about mental health struggles has experienced during his career.
Joining the club aged seven, he progressed through Man United's famous youth academy and signed a professional contract in 2015 aged 17 and made his first team debut in February 2016, a Europa League clash against FC Midtjylland.
He scored two goals in the match and only found out he would play moments before kick-off when Anthony Martial was injured in the warm-up.
Rashford also played 59 times for England, earning a place in the Euro 2016 squad at just 18 years old and played in two World Cups and entered the Euro 2020 final.
He is contracted at Old Trafford until 2028, having signed a new deal last summer which is understood to see him pocket a salary of £325,000-a-week.
