Marcus Rashford was left out of Barcelona’s starting XI for their La Liga clash with Getafe after arriving late for a team meeting, according to reports from Spain.
The Manchester United loanee had been the hero in midweek, scoring twice in Barca’s dramatic 2-1 Champions League win over Newcastle.
But Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claims that manager Hansi Flick benched the England forward as punishment for his tardiness.
Ferran Torres replaced Rashford in the starting line-up and struck twice in the first half to give Barca a commanding lead.
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Rashford was introduced at the interval and responded in style, setting up Dani Olmo for the third goal to wrap up a convincing 3-0 victory.
While Flick refused to publicly confirm that timekeeping was behind the decision, insisting after the match that his selection was down to “rotation”, the German coach is known for his strict approach to discipline.
During his time at Bayern Munich, Flick made punctuality a non-negotiable part of squad culture, and Barcelona players are said to be well aware of the rule that latecomers do not start.
Marcus Rashford provided an assist after coming off the bench in Barcelona's win over Getafe
|REUTERS
This is not the first time Rashford has faced disciplinary action for lateness.
In December 2022, then-Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag famously dropped him for oversleeping before a Premier League match against Wolves.
Rashford came off the bench that day to score the winner, a moment that was seen at the time as a turning point in his career.
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Marcus Rashford was benched by Erik ten Hag for a match between Manchester United and Wolves in 2022
|PA
However, Rashford’s form dipped again last season, leading current United boss Ruben Amorim to sanction a January loan move to Aston Villa.
The England international managed four goals in 17 appearances at Villa Park, enough to secure a summer switch to Barcelona but not enough to convince Amorim to keep him at Old Trafford.
Despite the incident, Rashford has generally impressed since arriving in Spain.
He has started three games for Barca and has already won praise from Flick for his work rate and versatility.
It's been suggested he was just two minutes late for the pre-match meeting with Getafe, reportedly due to a delay in completing the club’s daily digital check-in process.
Rashford’s response will have pleased Flick, who has previously benched other key players including Jules Kounde, Iñaki Peña and Raphinha for similar offences.
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Marcus Rashford was dropped by Barcelona just days after shining in their 2-1 Champions League win over Newcastle
| PAIn fact, Raphinha was also dropped last week but came off the bench to score twice against Valencia before returning to the starting XI against Newcastle.
Barcelona supporters will now watch closely to see if Rashford is restored to the line-up for their next La Liga match.
His display against Getafe suggests he remains a crucial part of Flick’s plans, provided he can stay on the right side of the club’s strict punctuality rules.
Barcelona are next in action on Thursday, with the Catalan titans due to lock horns with Oviedo - who have won just one of their first five league matches this term.