Marcus Rashford is reportedly feeling “bullied” by former Manchester United players, indicating that the recent scrutiny he’s facing has become overly harsh and unfair.
At 26, Rashford has encountered a difficult start to this season, following a disappointing 2023/24 campaign where he managed only eight goals across all competitions, a steep decline from his career-high of 30 goals the previous year.
His drop in form resulted in his exclusion from England’s Euro 2024 squad, where Gareth Southgate’s team finished as runners-up to Spain. United fans had hoped that a summer break would help Rashford recover his form, but he has yet to score in the first three Premier League matches of the current season.
Rashford has come under increasing criticism from former United players like Gary Neville and Roy Keane. However, a source close to Rashford believes he is being unfairly singled out compared to other players on the team.
The source mentioned to *The i*, “When other players make mistakes, they go unnoticed, but when it’s Marcus, the narrative changes. The criticism feels unrelenting, almost like bullying. Fans are swayed by these former players’ opinions, which adds extra pressure.”
The source also pointed out that Rashford has been playing in a wide position to accommodate United’s £100 million investment in central strikers, noting that while he’s performing his role, he can’t influence the team’s overall finishing issues.
This increased criticism of Rashford presents an added challenge for United manager Erik ten Hag as the team prepares to face Southampton. With United currently in 14th place after losing two of their first three games, including a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool, Ten Hag will be hoping Rashford can end his goalless streak against the struggling Saints.