“Good news…” Nemanja Matic sends stern Marcus Rashford message to Gareth Southgate

Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has sent Gareth Southgate a stern message following Marcus Rashford’s omission from the England squad.

After a sub-par season at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, Marcus Rashford was omitted from England‘s squad for the upcoming 2024 European Championships this summer.

While those such as Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins will be on the plane this summer following fantastic Premier League performances across the last campaign, Gareth Southgate explained that it was a decision based on merit.

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“These are, of course, difficult calls. You’re talking about players who are very good players and who’ve been an important part of what we’ve done over a number of years,” Southgate told reporters two weeks ago when asked why those such as Rashford, Jordan Henderson, and Ben Chillwell were left out.

“So, with Marcus, I just feel that other players in that area of the pitch have had better seasons. It’s as simple as that.”

Following this, it was announced on Thursday afternoon that Manchester City’s Jack Grealish would also not fly with the squad to Germany this summer—a decision by Southgate that former United midfielder Nemanja Matic has slammed.

“I would always like to have players like Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish in the team, players who can decide the game with one move!” Matic said on social media.

Further, Matic then alluded to the fact that Rashford and Grealish’s omissions is good news for his home country Serbia, who England face as their opening game of the tournament. “Not selected/good news for us,” he wrote.

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