Marcus Rashford and Casemiro left Manchester United behind to visit the United States during the international break and Gary Neville has challenged the duo’s choice of destination
Gary Neville has questioned why Manchester United stars Marcus Rashford and Casemiro flew long distances to go on holiday during the international break.
Rashford was on the receiving end of criticism as he showed up for an NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets last week in New York City. The forward could be seen entering the arena with an eye-catching large white hoodie and black leather trousers.
Casemiro made his way to Orlando with his family and posted shots on his Instagram at Disney World. While both players were free to do as they please during their spare time, with neither selected for their country during the international break, ex-United captain Neville has queried their choice of destination.
The former full-back insisted he has no issues with the optics surrounding Rashford’s attire or the attention he garners, but did worry over the effect jet lag could have on players. He also challenged the duo’s decision to log a hefty amount of air miles at a time when United are going through a difficult period.
“It comes with the territory when you’re this sort of player and stature,” Neville said on the It’s Called Soccer! podcast. “I’ve got very little sympathy for players who are the stars who are on huge money, huge commercial contracts, they want that attention, they need it as that’s what fuels them and makes them the great players what they are and that’s what gives them that adrenaline rush, they’re going to get more attention, so I’ve got no problem with that and the attention he gets.
“I’ve got no problem with him going away in the international break and I’ve got no problem with the clothes that he wears, he can wear whatever he wants, the only thing I would say, and I’m saying this very calmly as I don’t want a ‘Neville hammers Rashford’ to be honest with you, as I’m not hammering him.
“It’s been a very difficult period for the club and it’s been a very difficult period for Marcus Rashford. There was a player I used to play with that used to say, when times were tough that basically you go down to that extra level of detail in making sure everything’s perfect, you take the butter off your toast, you literally make sure you’re absolutely looking at every single 1% of detail you could.
“So I used to think standing in that tunnel, when going through a difficult time, I’d think ‘right I’ve got to work my way out of this, I’ve got to be absolutely perfect’. Every drink, every sleep, every training session, every stretch, has just got to be absolutely perfect.
“So would I think the most relaxing way to spend your time, whether you’re Casemiro, and I’ll bring him into it, Casemiro is 30 odd years of age, Marcus Rashford is in his 20s, travelling 10 or 11 hours and I, to be fair, have done that quite a few times in the last few months, you get a bit of jet lag going to the US. So, a three, four day jet lag-based trip, when you’ve got basically the idea of training and making sure you’re fit, I don’t personally think it’s the right choice of distance and choice of destination.”
Rashford has started all but one of United’s Premier League games this season but has struggled to reach the heights he is known for, only netting one goal and providing one assist so far. However, despite his trip Stateside seemingly giving people the impression he was taking it easy, Rashford was seen sitting on a treadmill in the middle of a fitness room which reports suggested was at Nike’s official headquarters in New York, as he looks to keep in shape ahead of the Ruben Amorim era.
Nevertheless, Neville isn’t convinced that flying to America was the best preparation for this weekend’s games. He also claimed that those United players who sought solace in more low-key places are the “clever ones”.
“If the New York Knicks were playing three or four hours away, with a one-hour time difference I’d say go for your life,” Neville added. “But I think personally, If I was looking at being absolutely perfect in myself, and I maybe took professionalism to an obsessive level, I wouldn’t be on a 10 hour flight to a different time zone that was potentially going to cause me more of a problem.
“Physically from a tiredness perspective, at particularly this point where a manager has just been sacked and we’re going through a tough time and all eyes are on us. I’d lie low and I’d go somewhere and rest. There are some Manchester United players who have gone away for the international break, and you don’t know where they’ve gone, but they’re the clever ones in my mind.”
Rashford and Casemiro returned to Manchester ahead of Amorim’s first session this week. The England international will have to battle with Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo for a place on the flanks, although he may also be used up front as United’s new manager shapes his squad.
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