‘It must be embarrassing,’ says Wayne Rooney as he opens up on seeing Marcus Rashford on visit to Carrington
WAYNE ROONEY was left embarrased for Marcus Rashford after seeing him train solo at Manchester United’s training ground.
The United legend spotted the wantaway striker working with one of the club’s fitness coaches during a recent visit to Carrington to watch his son, Kai, in action.
The England international was working out in close promixmity to the pitches used by the junior Red Devils, which left Rooney with second-hand embarrassement.
During a recent episde of the Stick to Football podcast, he recalled: “I went into Carrington on Sunday to take my kids to game day and Marcus Rashford was out on the training pitch with the fitness coach.
“But he was right over towards where the parents were walking past for the kids’ games.
“I looked at him thinking how embarrassing it must be for him as parents walked past. He’s there and all the parents are walking past him.
“I was surprised when this started over two years ago, but now I’m not.”
Rashford stunned the Old Trafford faithful last December by revealing he wants to leave the club for a “new challenge” in an unauthorised interview.
His bombshell came after he was exiled from the first team by manager Ruben Amorim, who has been critical of his efforts in tratining.
And Rooney believes it’d be best for both parties if Rashford’s wish for a “new challenge” is granted.
He said: “I’ve spoken to Marcus a couple of times and I’ve given him my thoughts and feelings that he needs to leave the football club.
“Because whatever is going on in his life and at Manchester United, he’s not the same.
“For him to have a fresh start, he needs to leave the club.”
Rashford’s apparent lack of effort in training has stunned Rooney, who added: “The fact your manager is coming out saying you’re not training right is crazy.”
“It’s well known I asked Sir Alex Ferguson to leave the club but I still came in every day and trained.
“With Marcus, it’s been going on for two years, it’s really sad. You have your personal pride.
“Take the manager out of it, I’m coming in thinking, ‘I’ve got Roy Keane there, Ryan Giggs [and] Gary Neville.
“‘I want to show them that I deserve to be here.'”
United will be back in action this evening, travelling to Romania to take on Steaua Bucharest in their final Europa League group match.