Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Marcus Rashford embroiled in war of words over Cristiano Ronaldo rumours

Marcus Rashford Ralf Rangnick February 2022

Marcus Rashford has become involved in a war of words with one reporter over rumours surrounding his Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rashford was quick to defend himself and his United team-mates on Wednesday after reports surfaced surrounding Ronaldo. After the Portugal star ended his six-game scoreless run on Tuesday night against Brighton, one reporter suggested Ronaldo was dividing the dressing room.

The 37-year-old, who returned to Old Trafford last summer from Juventus, has scored 15 goals in 28 games this season. His barren spell though had become to draw criticism.

And a report on Wednesday from German outlet Bild claimed United’s English players were irked with Ronaldo.

Christian Falk claimed “players like Harry Maguire, Marcus Rushford & Co are irritated that Ronaldo wants to lead the dressing room with his own clique. there is a risk of a split in the team Man Utd”.

Rashford though, who was a late sub on Tuesday night, has condemned the talk.

He tweeted: “Are we just making it up as we go along now then? Please stop looking for divides.”

However, Falk has hit back and is seemingly sticking by the story.

He tweeted: “Not true and you know it Marcus Rashford.”

There have been a number of leaks from the United dressing room in recent week. It’s a situation that Gary Neville has branded “disgusting”.

The former United full-back says he is aware of where the leaks are coming from with PR agencies and agents working overtime.

remarkable report from ESPN last week claimed United’s stars had rebelled against Ralf Rangnick and his staff’s training methods.

The report detailed how they had even compared his assistant manager, American Chris Armas, to fictional coach Ted Lasso.

Rangnick’s methods are rumoured to be ‘old fashioned’ with 49-year-old American Armas in the firing line.


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Rangnick avoids papers

The leaks even prompted Rangnick to answer questions about the story in his press conference.

 

“[I’ve heard] nothing, to be honest,” Rangnick said on the issue. “I haven’t read any newspapers or those articles.

“The way we have developed is obvious, the work we do on the pitch and the video analysis.”

Rashford is no stranger to the headlines. In October 2020 he become an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

He campaigned for the government to allow about 1.3 million children to claim free school meal vouchers in England’s summer holidays during the coronavirus pandemic.

He has also done significant work in the battle against food poverty with a nationwide ‘hunger campaign’.

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