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Marcus Rashford has hit back at former professionals who put down today’s biggest stars and insisted that he would ‘want to lift players’ in their position.
The Manchester United outcast, who completed a season-long loan move to Barcelona last month, has been on the receiving end of strong criticism from some of the game’s most influential pundits.
The likes of Alan Shearer, Graeme Souness, Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane have voiced their displeasure with Rashford’s performances in recent years. Indeed, last February, he suggested that he is judged more harshly than some other footballers and said there is ‘a tone’ to media reporting.
The winger, now ensconced in Catalan after securing his preferred exit from Old Trafford, has now hit back the overly critical talking heads and insisted that he would take a different approach as a pundit.
‘I’m more lenient towards the public having their opinion because they’re not to know but when it’s ex-players who know the game, I get confused about it,’ he said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
Asked why, in his view, former pros can be unfair in their criticism, Rashford added: ‘I don’t know.
Marcus Rashford has hit back at former professionals who put down today’s biggest stars and insisted that he would ‘want to lift players’ in their position
The 27-year-old has faced criticism from several leading pundits including Roy Keane (left) and Alan Shearer (right)
‘All I know is that when I come to retire, I’m not going to be doing that.
‘I don’t want to put players down, if anything I want to lift players because ultimately they’re going to play better on the pitch.
‘At the end of the day we all love to watch exciting stuff on the pitch.’
Rashford’s departure for the Catalan giants comes after he made 426 appearances for United, scoring 138 goals and providing 42 assists.
The winger burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced 18-year-old by scoring twice on his Premier League debut against Arsenal in February 2016 and established himself as one of the brightest talents in Europe.
Unfortunately, save for his most productive campaign in the 2022-23 season when he netted 30 goals in all competitions, he has been unable to maintain the level of consistency of his more accomplished peers.
He will be hopeful of performing well enough to earn a longer stay with the Spanish giants. But once his career is done, Rashford will no doubt be inundated with requests from media organisations to appear on their channels.
Gary Lineker said he believes that Rashford will make a good pundit when he hangs up his boots
It’s a role Gary Lineker believes the England international would excel in.
‘I’m not joking,’ the former BBC front man replied after seeing Rashford scoff at his idea. ‘You talk very intelligently about the game and the position, the different roles you have to play as a forward.
‘I don’t think I’ve upset too many players – maybe be a host.’
