Marcus Rashford ‘on verge of tears’ from community’s response to mural being vandalised

Marcus Rashford has spoken out a day on from England’s historic Euros 2020 loss to Italy and the torrents of racist abuse that followed it.

After he missed his penalty shootout, the Man United striker was inundated with vile and racist messages from internet trolls – his mural in Withington was even vandalised, though it has since been adorned with flowers, flags and messages of love and support from locals. 

And now, after a full day of silence, he has issued a heartfelt statement on Twitter.

He began by admitting that he’s had a ‘difficult season,’ and said that by missing the penalty last night, he felt he had ‘let his team mates down.’

He wrote: “All I can say is sorry. I wish it had gone differently. Whilst I continue to say sorry I want to shoutout to my team mates. This summer has been one of the best camps I’ve ever experienced and you’ve all played a role in that. A brotherhood has been built that’s unbreakable.”

Then, moving on to the issue surrounding the racist abuse he was faced with, he wrote: “I can critique my performance all day long, my penalty was not good enough, it should have gone in but I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from.

“The messages I’ve received today have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears. The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up.

“I’m Marcus Rashford, 23 year old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else I have that.”