Gary Lineker has sensationally claimed that Marcus Rashford would have faced less criticism if he were “a white player” during The Rest Is Football’s latest podcast featuring the former Manchester United winger.
The 27-year-old has recently moved on to pastures new, joining Spanish giants Barcelona on a loan plus option-to-buy deal, as he looks to put the woes of his United days behind him.
The Manchester-born star made 426 appearances for his boyhood club before it went sour under former boss Erik Ten Hag.
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While results were declining on the pitch, with Rashford enduring a barren spell in front of goal, it was Rashford’s off-field antics that drew further attention.
Marcus Rashford endured a difficult final two years at Manchester United
| PAThe England international was spotted partying just hours after suffering a 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Manchester City, and, in the same season, reported ill to training after being spotted partying in Belfast the day before.
The mood around Rashford at Old Trafford intensified with the arrival of Ruben Amorim, who almost immediately cut the star from his squad and told him to move elsewhere.
While a loan spell at Aston Villa showed glimpses that Rashford, who has earned 62 caps for his country, could be returning to form, there is real hope that Barcelona could be a new lease of life.
Gary Lineker questioned whether Marcus Rashford would have faced the same criticism if he was "a white player"
|YouTube - The Rest Is Football
Despite troubles on and off the pitch, The Rest Is Football host Lineker weighed in on the winger’s “unfair” criticism during his time at Old Trafford.
“Do you think sometimes you get unfairly criticised because of who you are and what you’ve done, not necessarily on the pitch?” Lineker asked.
“You know I am a massive supporter of what you did, I think everyone is, you shifted government policy and all that sort of thing. It was remarkable.
“Always my fear was the minute he has a bad spell, they'll blame that. Obviously I'm saying that because I feel it a little bit, but I think sometimes the criticism of you... He might go on a night out, he might go out in a certain outfit, and that will be criticised.
“I don't think that would be criticised if that was a white player.”
Rashford simply replied: “I honestly think it's not because people don't want to highlight it, I think people just don't care anymore.”
Co-host Micah Richards, somewhat diplomatically, advised the winger to focus on forming the younger generation’s opinions, rather than trying to alter judgements that have already been made.
“I just don't think you can change those people's opinions anyway,” Richards explained. “It's more about going forward and changing the opinions of the youth.”
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Marcus Rashford opened up on his struggles at Old Trafford on the podcast
|YouTube - The Rest Is Football
“I suffered it when I was coming through, people always say what they want to say.”
Lineker concluded by drawing on his own experience in Spain. The 64-year-old played for Barcelona for three years, and marks the last English player to play for the prestigious club.
He pointed out the important differences in the intensity and focus of the English media from the Spanish.
“You'll notice it's different [in Spain]. In terms of football, they will be incredibly critical if you're not performing on the pitch.
“They won't bother about your life off the pitch. They will respect your life off the pitch. I'm talking particularly in terms of the media.”
Rashford has featured throughout Barcelona’s pre-season friendlies so far, and with Robert Lewandowski’s injury, is expected to begin the season up top for the Blaugrana.
With the exciting, penetrative and direct front three of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Rashford, the Englishman could be on his way to a return to form away from his homeland.