Simon Jordan calls criticism of Marcus Rashford ‘silly, malevolent and Machiavellian’ amid debate about Manchester United and England star’s New York trip


Simon Jordan has jumped to the defence of Marcus Rashford amid recent criticism over his trip to New York.

The Manchester United star was spotted in the United States over the weekend following an injury he picked up during their FA Cup win against Fulham on March 19.

Instagram: @MarcusRashford

Rashford travelled to New York with his girlfriend during the international break

However, he has faced a lot of criticism for doing so despite being unable to play for England

Getty

However, he has faced a lot of criticism for doing so despite being unable to play for England

He was named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine, but later withdrew.

Rashford has since been criticised for his trip across the pond, but talkSPORT pundit Jordan believes it’s a story ‘designed to create something out of nothing.’

Speaking on White and Jordan, he said: “What exactly are we alleging here, what are we alluding to? When you are called up to your country you have to go, unless you provide very strong grounds for not going.

“So you can’t just pull out, people have to pull out for very legitimate reasons and they tend to be medically based. So, what are we alluding to here?

“Are we alluding to the fact that the player should be there because Gareth Southgate has brought team England together and as a result of it, all players should be around the place, even though he wouldn’t have been in the squad and it would take up a place if he was there?

“Should he be in the stands because that’s a good look? Or should he be able to do as he wants because, really and truly, the guy that’s driving the hardest bargain with him is [Erik] Ten Hag?

The 25-year-old’s injury is not thought to be serious but a return date is not yet known

Getty

The 25-year-old’s injury is not thought to be serious but a return date is not yet known


“If he’s comfortable with him being in America whilst he’s injured during an international break, what the hell is wrong with everybody else?”

Jim White responded by saying Rashford has a history of withdrawing from England duty, but Jordan replied: “Why don’t we just come out and say it then? We’re building a case that he’s really not committed to his country until it suits him.

“If we’re building that case, let’s have the balls to say it. Let’s have the journalists come out and say that, say ‘we actually really doubt the integrity of this young man, this young man has no integrity and only turns up when he feels like it’. Let’s have that case answered.

“Whether I want players that are injured to fly to another country and be swanning around in New York is a different discussion. Ten Hag has got the zeitgeist on this kid. He drops him from the game for being late for training.

Rashford has been a key part of United’s success this season

Getty

Rashford has been a key part of United’s success this season

“He’s got him flying at a top level. He’s been injured, he’s been out of form, he’s been out of sorts for some period of time, that’s why he’s not been in many squads. If he’s pulled out of five squads through injury, I would suggest this young man probably was injured.

“This is a silly, malevolent, Machiavellian story designed to create something out of nothing in the same way that people started writing articles about Rashford a couple of years ago because he bought lots of real estate.”

He later added: “This is naughty journalism, this is not right. And if they want to say it, say it. If the journalists are writing it, say it, make the allegation, really write it and say ‘we think, actually, he’s one of those that only turns up when he feels like it.’”

Southgate has also defended Rashford for the trip to New York, saying how he spends his time out of the squad is ‘entirely up to him’.

United fans will be hoping he can return to fitness, with the forward having 27 goals to his name as they approach the latter stages of the season.

Showdown Saturday on talkSPORT

On Saturday 1 April, it’s all kicking off on talkSPORT.

12:30pm: Starting the day, Man City host Liverpool in a key Premier League game.

3pm: Crystal Palace vs Leicester sees the return of Roy Hodgson to the Selhurst Park dugout.

7pm: Build-up begins for the heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin as AJ starts his route back to the top.

What. A. Day.

You can tune in to talkSPORT via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com, DAB digital radio, download the talkSPORT app, or ask your smart speaker to play talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2. talkSPORT is also widely available across the UK on 1089 or 1053 AM.





Source link: https://talksport.com/football/1375532/simon-jordan-marcus-rashford-new-york-criticism-man-utd-england/

Sponsors

spot_img

Latest

Aryna Sabalenka opts not to do presser at RG due to well-being and safety concerns

Aryna Sabalenka opts not to do presser at RG due to well-being and safety concerns (Provided by Tennis World USA) Belarusian tennis star Aryna...

Ethereum Price Could Avoid More Downsides If It Closes Above One Key Level

Ethereum price is struggling to clear the $1,885 zone against the US Dollar. ETH could start a decent recovery if there is a...

Knicks takeaways from Wednesday’s 129-120 loss to Thunder, including costly turnovers

Knicks takeaways from Wednesday's 129-120 loss to Thunder, including costly turnovers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement...

score and latest updates from FA Cup fifth round

07:35 PMTeam news: Bristol City's starting XIBristol City: O'Leary, Tanner, Vyner, Kalas, Pring, James, Williams, Sykes, Scott, Wells, Bell.Subs: Wilson, Dasilva, King, Weimann,...

45+ Fun Cocktails to Make At Home

It may not be Friday yet, but we’re already dreaming about the weekend … and over 45 fun cocktails to make at...