'I suffered Marcus Rashford humiliation and tore my shirt off in disgust – I was so angry'
Marcus Rashford suffered one of the biggest humiliations a top-level footballer can endure on Sunday. The Manchester United forward completed what he hoped to be a dream loan move to Barcelona last week as he looks to get his career back on track.
The deal, which was finalised in time for Rashford to fly to Japan with the rest of the Barca squad, gives the La Liga champions an option to buy the forward for £26million at the end of the season. Rashford's first pre-season outing came against Japanese side Vissel Kobe, where he started the game on the bench.
Flick brought the 27-year-old on for his much-anticipated debut at half-time, with Rashford showing glimpses of promise and working hard to track back in his new Blaugrana colours. However, he was quickly cut down to size as manager Hansi Flick took him off after just 33 minutes, moments after playing a key role in Barcelona's second goal.
Rashford and left-back Jofre Torrents made way for Gerard Martin and Pedro Fernandez, who scored Barca's third goal. While the substitution would have stung Rashford, Flick explained that his decision was not performance related, saying: "Rashford hasn't played that much, and we also wanted to give Gerard Martin 15 minutes because he was playing after his injury."
Just seven days ago, Rashford had been part of United's 'bomb squad' – the group training alone and made to use the club's Carrington training ground only once the first-team squad had gone home for the day.
One player who knows exactly how Rashford would have felt this weekend is former Tottenham midfielder Hossam Ghaly. He was signed by Spurs in 2006 and was used sporadically by then-head coach Martin Jol during the 2006/07 season.
After being in and out of the squad, the Egyptian was brought on against Blackburn Rovers in the first half of the penultimate game of the Premier League season after an injury to Steed Malbranque. But, like Rashford, he found himself substituted 31 minutes after his introduction – only his substitution WAS due to a poor performance.
Unlike Rashford, Ghaly responded in the worst possible way, furiously throwing his shirt on the ground while walking off the pitch. The act infuriated the Spurs faithful as jeers and chants of 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' rang around the stadium.
Ghaly was disciplined by the club and left out of the matchday squad on the final day of the season, before making a public apology. He said: "I am just so angry with myself. I have always considered it an honour to wear the Tottenham shirt and I never intended to show any disrespect.
"I knew things weren't happening for me out there, my play was terrible and I could hear the crowd jeering me.
"I was so upset at the fans' reaction. I have enjoyed playing in front of the club's supporters all season and I felt I had given my best all the time and played some decent football.
"It is always hard to accept being substituted after such a short period of time and I was upset and taken aback by the cheering. I am a player who plays with my heart.
"I know my reaction was totally wrong," he added. "I have apologised to the manager and I also want to apologise to the fans. I hope they don't judge me on this incident alone. I have tried hard for the club this season."
Despite his best efforts at reconciliation, it marked Ghaly's last game for Spurs as he was sent out on loan to Derby County in January 2008. He returned to north London for the 2008/09 season but didn't play a single game before his permanent departure.
Harry Redknapp considered bringing him on during a January 2009 clash with Wigan, but the Englishman decided against it after hearing the fans boo Ghaly while he was warming up and preparing to come on off the bench.
Rashford will want to avoid such a fate at Barcelona, though he will also hope that Flick does not make a habit of subjecting him to external ridicule. The England international has had his fair share of spats with United managers Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim in recent years.
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