Marcus Rashford has revealed plans to step away from social media for a period of time to give him time to reset mentally after a “challenging season”.
Manchester United striker endured 12 difficult months on and off the field and was left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.
Rashford ended the season on a high after helping United win the FA Cup against Manchester City on Saturday, but he scored just eight goals during the campaign and was reprimanded twice by manager Erik ten Hag for his behavior off the field. Last month, he criticized the abuse he received on social media by declaring “enough is enough”.
Now, the 26-year-old has announced his decision to step away from his social media accounts for a few weeks to help him recharge his batteries.
He wrote on X:
It’s time to get off social media for a few weeks. I intend to rest and reset mentally after a challenging season individually and collectively. Thank you to the fans who stood by me during a difficult time. For those who didn’t just remember United, we are always together.
-Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) May 27, 2024
Meanwhile, Luke Shaw has hit out at claims he has prioritized playing for England over Manchester United.
The United defender missed the final three months of the season with a serious muscle injury and did not recover in time for Saturday’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City at Wembley.
Wayne Rooney caused a stir following United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal this month, claiming he was “100 per cent” certain that some players were avoiding the club’s final league matches to preserve themselves for the Cup or Euro finals this summer .
There was no suggestion that Shaw was one of those players that Rooney, the former United captain, had in mind. But the left-back, who was included Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad but is far from certain that he is fit enough to make the final 26-man squad that will be unveiled on June 7, he has felt the need to quell rumors that he is shielding himself.
Writing on his Instagram account, Shaw said:
Meanwhile, Sofyan Amrabat has not given up hope that United can exercise a £21.4m option to buy him this summer following his season-long loan from Fiorentina. The Moroccan midfielder impressed at Wembley but he was very disappointing and was on the periphery this semester.
“We’re going to talk. Staying is certainly an option,” he told Dutch TV Ziggo. “Manchester United is the biggest club in the world, so who wouldn’t want to play football here? But all parties have to be happy with each other, so let’s sit down now and see what happens.”
Anthony Martial has confirmed that his nine-year spell at the club has finally ended. Signed from Monaco in September 2015 for a fee reaching £44m, the French forward has failed to live up to the promise he showed during an eye-catching debut season.
Jose Mourinho wanted to sell Martial in 2018 only for United to veto the transfer, but the 28-year-old would ultimately become a lightning rod for fan criticism as patience with his attitude and injury history ran out.
Martial’s last appearance for the club came in an insipid 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth in early December, having been sidelined since undergoing groin surgery.
Despite spending nine years at the club, Martial scored just 90 goals in 317 appearances and has now left as a free agent after the club opted not to invoke the one-year extension option on his £200,000-a-week contract.
In a statement on social media, he said: “It is with great emotion that I write to you today to say goodbye. After nine incredible years at the club, the time has come to turn a new page in my career.
“Since arriving in 2015, I have had the immense honor of wearing this shirt and playing in front of you, the best fans in the world! You have been an unwavering support, in good times and difficult times.
“Your passion and loyalty have been a constant source of motivation for me. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me. Your songs, your encouragement and your love for the club are memories that will be engraved in my heart forever.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to all my teammates, coaching staff and all the club members I met during my nine years here. I am proud to be able to share these experiences with you.
“Manchester United will always be in my heart.”
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