The latest Man Utd transfer news and reaction as Marcus Rashford joins Barcelona on a season-long loan.
Marcus Rashford has signed for Barcelona on a season-long loan from Man Utd. (Image: Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
Football pundit Simon Jordan has criticised both Manchester United and Marcus Rashford on the day the forward completed his latest loan exit – this time to Barcelona.
The 27-year-old has officially departed Old Trafford again on Wednesday evening. A season-long spell with Spanish top-flight champions Barcelona has been confirmed by both clubs involved.
As The Manchester Evening News understands, Barca are to cover the player’s entire wages, saving United around £12million. They will have an option to sign him next summer at the end of their temporary agreement.
The attacker, who grew up and progressed through United’s academy from age of seven and made his first-team debut at 18, has not played for the club since he was dropped by head coach Ruben Amorim last December. He finished last season on loan at Aston Villa but instead of fighting for his place upon returning, it was Rashford’s wish to find another challenge.
“We should lament the loss of a significant talent.
“I don’t think he was ever at the level he was built up to be but we should lament the loss of the culture of Man United for a player to lose his way,” Jordan began telling talkSPORT hours before Barcelona’s loan was confirmed, critical of United to begin with.
“Do you remember after the European Championships he hadn’t been fit a lot of the season, was in the European Championships squad… came into that. After the European Championships, the club allowed him to go on holiday for two weeks and then have a shoulder surgery.
“Hang on? Get your priorities right.
“I think you have to lay the responsibility on the opportunities that have not been taken by the player at his own door, but if you don’t create the culture for these young men to respect and value the opportunities that they’ve got, they can then get distracted by outside influences.”
While the former Crystal Palace chairman took aim at the club, Rashford wasn’t spared any criticism either for his part in the collapse of his career at Old Trafford.
Jordan continued: “Of course [it is Rashford’s responsibility to deliver], but we know there are very few leaders in football. There are more often people who are followers.
“You lose them [followers], there’s distractions and outside influences. They get more distracted in their social life. They make their decision for their birthdays… They make the decision to not turn up for training and go out on the whiz in Northern Ireland – and things of that nature.
“These are things that are clearly being tolerated by a culture. Alongside that you’ve then got the distractions, the affluence and the wealth footballers have.
“You’ve got a culture of not being able to tell people the truth because if you do, they can’t cope with it – it’s only good news they can hear so they don’t build resilience and leadership.”
Rashford is join Hansi Flick’s team following months of speculation on joining them. Barca won La Liga last season and there will be plenty of competition for the starting XI with Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres all vying for a place in attacking quarters.
Jordan concluded: “I think he’ll be successful at Barcelona because the clear thing for Marcus Rashford is to get away from Manchester United. That’s for Man United’s sake and Marcus Rashford’s sake – and we should lament that because he’s a good player.”
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