For more than a year, Marcus Rashford’s goals have been followed by a run to the corner flag, an abrupt stop, closed eyes (sometimes) and an index finger pointed to the temple.
But his goal against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday was followed by something different — gone was the celebration that has become his trademark and has transcended football.
Rashford has since confirmed his ‘talking’ gesture celebration against Spurs was in response to criticism he has faced.
The Manchester United forward had been criticised on social media for commenting on Jadon Sancho’s Instagram post following his loan move to Borussia Dortmund this month.
Rashford, 26, replied ‘Yesirrrrr’, followed by a love heart, to Sancho’s post about being back on the training pitch at Dortmund. To some, it seems this was a show of disloyalty to United, rather than a player being happy for a club and international team-mate who has endured a difficult period.
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The forward, however, was not alone in congratulating Sancho on his return to Germany.
Benni McCarthy, one of Erik ten Hag’s assistants, also commented with a love heart emoji and a crown. This appears to have since been deleted.
Under a separate photo, Luke Shaw wrote “Love that my bro”, with Donny van de Beek also posting a love heart.
How did Rashford celebrate his goal against Spurs?
After placing the ball into the bottom corner, he jogged towards the corner flag and started making a talking gesture before sliding on his knees.
Even when he was congratulated by his team-mates for restoring United’s lead in the 2-2 draw, there was no smile from Rashford.
It was his first goal at Old Trafford since May and only his fourth of the season for United.
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Rashford was dropped for the games against Chelsea, Bournemouth, Liverpool and West Ham United in December, but returned to the starting XI at home to Aston Villa on December 26.
He has now scored two goals in his past three appearances.
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What did it mean?
The ‘talking’ gesture was a response to the criticism he has faced for commenting on Sancho’s post.
Rashford confirmed on social media that he was referring to the abuse he had received, including the questioning of his loyalty and commitment to United.
Thank you for clarifying this matter.
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) January 15, 2024
Other criticism has also been directed at Rashford’s performances.
Roy Keane, the former United captain, said in August that Rashford is “like a child” and remarked on Sunday that he wants to “see more” from him.
“He’s shown it before, he’s got the quality,” Keane told Sky Sports. “Why does he seem to be upset with everybody? He’s got to go and enjoy it — he’s playing for Man United.”
Jamie Redknapp, also talking on Sky Sports, said Rashford’s form during the 2023-24 campaign means he has “no right to be upset” with the criticism levelled at him.
What’s he done previously?
At the end of 2022, Rashford started celebrating his goals with a routine that has since become very familiar, ending with his index finger pointed to his temple.
The first time he did it followed his winner at Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 31, 2022, the same day he had been left out of the starting line-up by Ten Hag as punishment for sleeping in and turning up late for a meeting.
Rashford was keen to keep its full meaning a secret, preferring for people to start guessing, and even stayed quiet when asked about its message by United’s in-house media team.
There was a suggestion he had copied it from Aurelien Tchouameni’s similar celebration after his goal against England at the 2022 World Cup, but it originated between him and his close friends and relates to the striker shutting out the external noise that has occasionally followed him throughout his career, as well as finding a new focus.
Other footballers, including Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Brighton’s Danny Welbeck, started mimicking Rashford’s celebration. Welbeck spoke to the United forward before using it in the spirit of solidarity for another academy graduate.
(Top photo: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)