Has Paul Scholes gone too far by continuously 'attacking' Rashford?

Marcus Rashford's transfer to Barcelona appeared to free him from Manchester United's pressure, yet the truth is different.

Shortly after the English striker made an impressive start at Camp Nou, former legend Paul Scholes publicly admitted “I just can't be happy for that kid.”. This statement was shocking and reveals more about Scholes' perspective than Rashford's true character.

During a podcast with Nicky Butt and Paddy McGuinness, Scholes described Rashford's attitude at Old Trafford as “shameful”, claiming that he “did not try hard enough” and “walked on the pitch because he wanted to leave.”. He even mentioned Rashford arriving two minutes late before a recent Barcelona match and then being benched, sarcastically questioning: “Is there still anyone oversleeping now?”.

The truth about the Barcelona incident was clarified by the media: Rashford was only two minutes late due to filling out an electronic form, missed no preparation, and even assisted a goal after coming on in the win against Valencia. This was definitely not “a repeated offense” as Scholes described.

It is also important to acknowledge his time at Old Trafford, where he played despite injuries to his back, shoulders, and feet, serving Manchester United and becoming the player with the most appearances under Mourinho and Solskjaer, then continuing to contribute under manager Erik ten Hag. Saying Rashford “abandoned Man United” seems like a biased judgment.

Ironically, at the age of 27—the same age as Rashford now—Scholes once refused to play in a League Cup match due to frustration over only getting 13 minutes of playtime earlier. He was fined two weeks' wages and later admitted it was “the biggest mistake of his career.”. At that time, Scholes was no longer a “boy” and had to take responsibility for his actions.

Comparing these two cases shows the issue lies not with the player but with the environment. Sir Alex Ferguson's MU in 2001 had a strong support system; meanwhile, MU in 2025 is a club mired in controversy and negative culture.

Scholes has the right to express his opinion, but as a legend and commentator, he should use his voice fairly, especially when Manchester United is suffering a crisis of confidence. Highlighting faults in a former club icon while ignoring his contributions can easily mislead public perception.

Marcus Rashford may make mistakes, but he deserves balanced judgment and empathy—something Paul Scholes himself once greatly needed during his own career.