A Nigerian federal lawmaker and ardent football enthusiast, Aderemi Oseni, has condemned what he described as “deliberate conspiracy” against Manchester United forward, Marcus Rashford.
Oseni, a devoted fan of Shooting Stars FC, Ibadan, and Manchester United, expressed concern about the turn of events between Rashford and Manchester United in an official statement through his media aide, Idowu Ayodele.
The United forward had been out of favour with the club’s new manager, Ruben Amorim, and has barely had game time under him after falling out of favour with him since mid-December 2024.
Representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State and also serving as Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oseni expressed displeasure over United’s treatment of Rashford, claiming it was “an orchestrated attempt to frustrate and undermine the player.”
Oseni said: “The posture of Manchester United towards Rashford is a deliberate attempt to rubbish the glory this young man has built over the years.
“If he has made any mistakes – whether due to youthful exuberance, personal struggles, or any other reason – it should be understood as part of life’s journey. Everyone experiences highs and lows, but instead of supporting him, they have chosen to humiliate him.”
Rashford, 27, has been at United since the age of 7 and is currently the club’s 13th all-time highest goal scorer, but has currently been excluded from the squad.
Reports suggest that new manager, Ruben Amorim has deliberately excluded the 27-year-old striker due to concerns over his commitment, a decision the lawmaker believes is unjust and damaging to the player’s career.
The situation escalated last Sunday when Amorim reportedly declared that he would rather field his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach, Jorge Vital than recall Rashford to the squad.
Oseni described Amorim’s statement as “unnecessary public humiliation of the player, who has given his best years to the club.”
He said: “It is evident that Rashford is being pushed out of the club, not because of poor performance, but due to envy and internal politics. If they no longer want him, they should handle it professionally and help him secure a move to another club that will celebrate him, rather than destroying the young talent.”
Oseni also noted that Rashford had played only a few matches under the new coach but still managed to score four goals in three appearances before being frozen out, and argued that the decision to sideline the player was not based on merit but on ulterior motives.
“Rashford once said he was ready for a new challenge out of frustration. Anyone in his shoes would feel the same way after facing such humiliation. Instead of supporting him, they are making things worse. But I strongly believe that all these provocations will eventually lead to his elevation,” he said.
The lawmaker urged Manchester United’s management to reconsider their approach, emphasising that Rashford deserved respect for his years of service to the club. “Manchester United’s treatment of Marcus Rashford appears to be a deliberate attempt to undermine his legacy despite his years of dedication to the club. Even if he made an error by expressing a desire to leave, the situation should have been handled privately rather than publicly humiliating him.
“The coach’s statement that he would rather play a 63-year-old goalkeeper trainer than Rashford is not only disrespectful but also unnecessary provocation. Despite this, Rashford has shown remarkable patience, considering all he has contributed to the team during his prime.
“It is evident that his exclusion is not based on performance but on internal politics, possibly driven by envy over his salary. If United can no longer accommodate him, they should engage him professionally and facilitate a move to a club that will value him instead of trying to destroy his career. No matter the challenges he faces, they will ultimately lead to his elevation, and those attempting to bring him down will only contribute to his success in the long run,” Oseni concluded.
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