It’s been a tough few months for Marcus Rashford. The United attacker has apparently fallen out with Erik Ten Hagg, meaning a £60 million transfer could be on the cards.
That’s the same figure United are believed to be interested in paying Brentford for former Peterborough goal scorer Ivan Toney, impressive for England in the Euros in the moments he’s been on the field. That’s sure to cause further pain for Rashford, who missed out on the squad despite impressing at Euro 2020 three years ago.
As fellow penalty-villain Bukayo Saka put his demons to bed with an effort from 12-yards in the shoot-out again Switzerland, Rashford is seemingly still haunted by his failure against Italy at Wembley. However, while the on-field trauma continues to dog United’s 26-year-old, off the field, he is slowly building a portfolio of endorsements that will ensure he is set for life.
Many fans see what happens on the field as a barometer of success or failure, but off the field, there’s no doubt that Marcus Rashford is a success. It might not be a major comfort to him as others steal international thunder, but he does have some major brands backing him, something likely to continue even if he leaves Manchester United.
Burberry
One of the biggest endorsements the 26-year-old has is with Burberry. They’re known for their distinctive tartan design, and they’ve linked up with Rashford to support young people around the world. The endorsement has seen Rashford pose in different bits of Burberry clothing, helping further both his reach and theirs. It’s challenging to see which is the bigger name; Burberry has a track record that goes back to before Rashford was born. They not only make clothes but also designer sunglasses, such as the BE3144 Aviator-style. They are not dissimilar to those worn by another United legend, David Beckham, a player Rashford would surely love to emulate. Rashford is often seen in Burberry clothing in shoots, but unlike Beckham, he’s not regularly sporting their sunglasses or clothes out on the streets.
Nike
A player knows he has made it when he is given a signature boot, which is exactly what Nike offered Rashford in 2023. Rashford’s debut collection, the performance footwear range, features Elite, Pro, and Academy versions of the Mercurial Superfly and Air Max Pulse. His initial deal with Nike, signed when he was 18, was worth £400,000 per year, running for five years. That’s long since expired, but the player has retained Nike as his official boot sponsor despite interest from Puma in 2021. His current deal is coming to an end in 2024, so who knows, he might be wearing new boots at a new club when next season kicks off.
McDonalds
If there’s one thing Rashford is known for more than football, it is his social advocacy, and his link-up with McDonald’s underlines that. It’s unclear if he benefits from his links with the fast food chain, but they offered a million free meals on the back of his campaign to feed vulnerable children. At the time of the arrangement, in 2020, McDonalds said that ‘by partnering with the Manchester United striker, McDonald’s has endorsed policy recommendations of the National Food Strategy to help identify a long-term solution to child food poverty in the UK’. It might not be worth pounds and pence to the attacker, but it’s a partnership that further raises his profile outside of the game.
Conclusion
Marcus Rashford has had a tough 12 months. He’s missed out on the England squad, is underwhelming at United, and now could be on his way out. However, off the field, he’s a star, not only signing deals that help him but also those that help others. That makes him a role model for other young footballers, a bar for them to reach. Wherever he does end up, these endorsements are the making of the man, not a missed penalty in the Euros three years ago.
