Marcus Rashford has been spotted putting his disappointing England snub behind him by showing up courtside in New York wearing a flashy set of grills.
Just a few years ago, the 27-year-old was on his way to Old Trafford legend status after reaching double figures of league goals in three consecutive seasons and gaining plaudits off the field with his charity work in battling child food poverty.
But as United’s fortunes have fallen off a cliff edge, so have Rashford’s and the forward has scored just eight times in 44 Premier League appearances over the last two campaigns as the Red Devils slump into the lower half of the table.
He also got on the wrong side of recently-sacked boss Erik ten Hag after calling in sick for training following an all-day drinking session in Belfast in January.
Rashford, who has won 60 caps for his national team, continues to be excluded from the England squad but is keeping himself occupied during the international break, taking in New York Knicks’ clash with the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The forward could be seen entering the arena with a big white hoodie and black leather trousers but once he settled into his seat he looked comfortable in a black t-shirt.
Marcus Rashford has been spotted during the international break at an NBA match in New York
He was flanked at Madison Square Garden with the likes of Ben Stiller and friend Ro-Shaun Williams
As he sat to watch New York Knicks versus Brooklyn Nets he sported a new set of grills (source: Johnnydangandco on Instagram)
Before the match started, Rashford had been greeted by a host of NBA players including Jalen Brunson and stars of the entertainment world such as Spike Lee.
And as he sat down to watch the game, the United striker, flanked by the likes of Hollywood icon Ben Stiller, appeared to have something in his mouth as the action unfolded.
But it soon emerged that he was sporting a glitzy new set of grills to match his extravagant outfit.
Rashford was also joined by his friend Ro-Shaun Williams, who plays for Northern Irish side Larne having come up through the United ranks with the striker.
Williams was with Rashford during his infamous Belfast bender in January.
The Knicks ended up winning the New York derby 124-122 in a thriller at the Garden.
Rashford, who has seen six United managers come and go, now has yet another to impress as Amorim arrived in Manchester this week to take over from Erik ten Hag.
The Portuguese is likely to take his preferred 3-4-3 formation with him from Sporting Lisbon and the system will require the wider men in the front three to tuck in as no10s as well as pushing out to the flanks.
Hollywood director Spike Lee was among those who went over to speak with Rashford
As he arrived at the venue, Rashford could be seen wearing a white hoodie
Jalen Brunson greeted Rashford courtside ahead of the NBA match on Friday night
Rashford was snubbed by manager Lee Carsley for the England squad last week
Rashford has had a poor season scoring once in United’s disastrous Premier League campaign
Rashford has been left out of the England setup but could come back under Thomas Tuchel
Rashford still needs to convince Ruben Amorim (left), however, amid his arrival at the club
This is likely to suit Rashford’s versatility more than that of out-and-out wingers Garnacho and Amad Diallo and may give him the opportunity to revitalise his career.
One manager he has caught the eye of lately is incoming England boss Thomas Tuchel who reportedly contacted Rashford’s camp to let him know he is a huge admirer.
That could lead to a recall as early as March in the first international break of next year, as long as Rashford up his current form at club level with United.
A source told The Sun: ‘Tuchel contacted Marcus and his representatives and told them he saw Marcus as an essential part of the England squad. He said he believed a big part of England’s failure to win Euro 2024 was not having Marcus as an option.
‘Other teams fear his abilities and Tuchel said he believed without Rashford, England didn’t offer a strong attacking threat on the left and that made them easier to play against as a lot of the ball came down the right.’
Rashford’s discipline was called into question earlier this year when he phoned in sick for United training after allegedly downing shots of tequila during a boozy trip to the Northern Irish capital.
A waitress, who claims she was invited out by the England star, said at the end of the night he was so drunk that he dropped wads of cash in front of her in his five-star hotel room, moments before she was forced to put him to bed after he passed out.
Speaking to The Sun, Sarah Adair claimed Rashford, who is reportedly paid £325,000 a week, invited her on the ‘weird’ night out in which she said he was ‘clearly on a mission to get drunk’.
Rashford went and visited Larne FC before going on a 12-hour bender in Belfast in January
Waitress Sarah Adair said she was invited on a night out with the footballer and his entourage
Rashford was spotted going into a nightclub late at night, and reportedly asked if there were any clubs that would stay open beyond 3am if he paid them enough money
He posed for pictures with some young players at Larne FC prior to his boozy night out
The footballer, who was pictured having dinner with his childhood sweetheart fiance Lucia Loi in November months after they split, was also allegedly seen arguing with a French woman at a nightclub.
Rashford’s behaviour, which saw him dropped from the Manchester United team and saw the club issue a statement saying he had ‘taken responsibility’, is alleged to have angered his team-mates with one source saying: ‘They couldn’t believe that he would do that given the situation the club is in.’
Rashford had arrived in the Northern Irish capital on Wednesday on a private jet from Manchester, before checking into the five-star Fitzwilliam Hotel and heading out to the Dirty Onion pub and Lavery’s bar, it’s claimed.
The next day, after visiting Larne FC – who his friend Williams had just signed for – the 26-year-old went to the Italian restaurant where Adair works.
The mother of on told the Sun she didn’t initially recognise the footballer, who reportedly signed a £375,000-a-week contract with Manchester United last year, and only found out when her manager told her who he was.
The 30-year-old said Rashford was joined by two men and two women, one of whom was ‘French and very beautiful’, with the group ordering food and drinks.
She claimed that the footballer ordered sea bass but didn’t touch his food, instead focusing on shots of tequila and cocktails, before inviting her to join the group on their night out.
After she agreed to join him, Rashford asked Adair whether she knew any nightclubs that would remain open beyond 3am if he paid them enough money.
