Gary Neville has criticised Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Casemiro ahead of Sunday’s match against Ipswich, with the Sky Sports pundit left unimpressed by what he perceives to be a lack of ‘professionalism’.
The two stars will be hoping to start the showdown against Kieran McKenna’s side, in what will be the first match of the Ruben Amorim era.
During the recent international break, Rashford raised eyebrows by jetting off to America to watch basketball.
As for Casemiro, the Brazil international flew out to Florida with his family after not being selected for his country.
Man Utd news: Gary Neville has criticised Marcus Rashford’s decision to fly to America during the recent international break
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Neville has now questioned the pair’s ‘professionalism’, however.
The former United star believes it is unwise of them to jet across the world, especially given the club’s poor form so far this season.
Neville, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, said: “The professionalism, looking after your body and making sure you’re best prepared for the next training session is critical to every decision you make during the season.
“He has got a mental break, he’s got to get away and has got to rest with friends – then you talk about the choice of venue, how far do you fly, what’s the time difference, is that going to give a jet lag issue, is that going to give a stiffness issue from being on a flight for 12 hours?
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“This is on Casemiro more than Rashford but if I’m 30 years old and I’m looking after my body – and he’s won five Champions Leagues and is an unbelievable player, but if he was away with Brazil for 10 days, we would say he would struggle this weekend because he’s been away.
“They have chosen that international break.
“If you are talking about the minor details in being as professional as you can be and as prepared you can be for a training session on a Monday night, that isn’t the best choice of venue.”
Rashford was joined by close friend Ro-Shaun Williams during his time in America.
Williams was with the forward back in January when he was filmed being drunk in a nightclub in Belfast.
Rashford was ultimately fined and dropped by Erik ten Hag, who was left unhappy after the footage went viral on social media.
Like every other United star, Rashford has a clean slate under Amorim.
But he’ll need to hit the ground running to prove he can be part of the 39-year-old’s plans for the future, having struggled for consistency so far this season.
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Neville continued his criticism by adding: “I’m not that wound up about Rashford and Casemiro going over to the United States, but what I’m asking is, if you’ve got a four-day break, Portland is a 12-hour flight and an eight-hour time difference, your jet lag is bad, and you feel a bit [rough].
“They went to Portland, and I’m asking the question based on professionalism – you’re playing badly, the team are losing, your 13th in the league, and there is a new manager coming in – would you choose that trip as a break to recharge your batteries?
“That’s not a recharging trip. It’s not right that.”
But Ian Wright has defended the pair.
Man Utd news: Gary Neville feels Casemiro should know better after the veteran flew to America during the recent international break
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When asked if he’d travel to America during an international break, the Arsenal icon said: “If it’s my time off then yes, I’d do it.
“Simply, because it’s my time off. If you’re going for three or four days, that jet lag won’t cause you too much of a problem.”