Gary Neville and Gary Lineker found themselves locked in a social media back-and-forth after former England right back Neville called out Manchester United’s ‘tone deaf’ stars for partying days after a Champions League exit.
The former United right back has been less than impressed that, just days after a last-16 exit at the hands of Spanish side Atletico Madrid, United’s stars have been making the most of a rare weekend off by jetting off around the world.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick was a special guest of the West Indies cricket team in Barbados as they faced England, while Marcus Rashford was ringside in Dubai for the boxing and Jadon Sancho attended a Dubai party hosted by singer-songwriter Davido.
Lineker felt the criticism was unfair and jibed that in Neville’s day, players ‘were mostly busy getting hammered down the pub without everyone being on social media to spy on them.’
Neville hit back that it was hardly in need of spies when the players were out so publicly.
‘Do you really think that’s a problem?’ Lineker continued. ‘Going to watch other sports has always been a thing. A positive thing at that.’
Ralf Rangnick was pictured with West Indies icon Sir Gordon Greenidge at the Kensington Oval
Marcus Rashford (middle) took in some boxing with Brandon Williams (right) while in Dubai
Jadon Sancho (left) partied at a nightclub in Dubai with singer-songwriter Davido, while Avram Glazer was seen on the pre-race grid walk at the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix (right)
Neville was not going to stop there and he responded: ‘Would you not adjust your plans if you had suffered a bad defeat as a player to maybe lie low?’
The Twitter clash caught the eye of professional golfer Lee Westwood, who appeared to recall a night out with Neville during his playing days.
Westwood tweeted: ‘Late 90s. Living Room. Manchester. Wednesday night. You, Me, Darren Clarke. On it. United we’re [sic] winning trophy’s. I was. Darren was.
‘Professionalism isn’t United’s problem. Talent is. Or lack of it. Too many average players. Thank god social media wasn’t around back then eh!?’
Nonetheless, Neville took issue with United’s players and executives jetting off after such a miserable result and cup exit.
United chief Avram Glazer had no qualms about heading to cricket in Dubai and then Formula One’s Bahrain Grand Prix, one particular trip that irked Neville into an outburst on Monday morning.
‘I remember a time when United players, managers, executives wouldn’t be seen in their local Italian after a draw at home let alone getting knocked out of Europe,’ he tweeted.
‘This last week we’ve seen a global tour of F1, Concerts, Cricket and UFC events. This lot are Tone Deaf!’
With a host of teams in FA Cup quarter-final action, United found themselves with the weekend off – they were eliminated by Championship side Middlesbrough in the fourth round – and many of the players were keen to capitalise.
Gary Neville was bemused by the ‘global tour’ and said it would never have happened in his day
Man Utd co-owner Avram Glazer has been pictured with Dubai’s Sport Council chairman
Glazer’s trip to Dubai comes on a week which saw United crash out of the Champions League
Rangnick, who is under increasing pressure to reignite their bid for a top-four finish, opted to jet off to the Caribbean to go to the fourth day of the second Test between England and West Indies.
During his visit, the German coach took time out to have a photo with former West Indies opener Sir Gordon Greenidge.
Rangnick’s trip to the Kensington Oval came just days after it was reported that United co-owner Avram Glazer travelled to Dubai to meet Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed Al Maktoum to discuss the prospect of launching a cricket team.
Neville called out Glazer’s actions on Twitter, and aimed another dig over the club’s previous attempt to form a breakaway European Super League, writing: ‘He must have stopped off on his way to Manchester for those fans meetings they promised post ESL!!
‘United go out of the Champions League and he heads to Dubai to discuss Cricket.’
Neville is unlikely to have been placated to have seen Glazer appear on his screens once again over the weekend as he attended the Bahrain GP.
The United owner was captured strolling down the grid during the pre-race grid walk open to celebrities and influencers.
Dubai was the destination of choice for players, with Rashford, who is struggling badly for form at United this season, in Dubai alongside close friend Brandon Williams, currently out on loan at Norwich City, to see Sunny Edwards defend his IBF title.
Eric Bailly (left) headed to old side Espanyol to train and build up his fitness while Jesse Lingard (right) went to Milan to reunite with former team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Rashford was seen later behind the scenes chatting to American former welterweight champion Regis Prograis after his win against rival Tyrone McKenna.
In Neville’s days under Sir Alex Ferguson, United’s players would typically like to keep a low profile after disappointing results but this current squad’s willingness to be out in public has irked him.
Sancho was all smiles in a Dubai nightclub alongside various singers and music artists while Jesse Lingard headed for Milan to reunite with former team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Out-of-favour centre back Eric Bailly was seen smiling as he returned to one of his former sides, Espanyol.
Bailly showed himself using Espanyol’s facilities to work on his fitness, rather than stay in Manchester and use the club’s Carrington training base.
Neville’s dig at Avram Glazer and United’s globetrotting players comes days after he called on co-owner Joel Glazer to follow through with his promise to hold meetings with United fans, and back up the club’s new chief executive Richard Arnold.
Neville has also slammed Joel Glazer this week for not meeting with United fans as promised
Following their Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid, the former Red Devils defender said on his Sky Sports podcast: ‘The reality of it is something big is missing, and it comes from the top.
‘We heard Joel Glazer say some time ago he was going to engage with the fans. Flights are open Joel, you can get to Manchester.
‘Let’s see you over here, let’s see you talk to the fans properly. Explain that vision, you’ve got a new CEO in place, but you can’t just leave it to the new CEO. You’ve got to come over.
‘He said off the back of the Super League he was going to change the way he operated the club, and he was going to come over and see the fans.
‘He’s not done. Not that I know of anyway, unless he’s slipped in without me knowing, and not many people slip into Manchester without me knowing! They sent Tom Brady over, which was nice on Saturday, but it’d be nice if they sent themselves over.’
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