Marcus Rashford Forms Taskforce with Food Brands To Feed Poor Kids; You Have To Start From Scratch While Playing Abroad: Sandhu and More (Football Round-Up)

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford announced the establishment of a task force with some big food brands in the United Kingdoms to help feed poor children. The group includes Aldi, Asda, Tesco, Deliveroo, Sainsbury’s and Kellogg’s among others. 

Rashford, in a letter to parliament, endorsed three policy recommendations of the National Food Strategy. It includes expanding free school meals to children who are eligible, providing them food during holidays, and increasing the value of healthy start vouchers. 

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“I feel like at times people think they are being looked down on if they ask for help, and I think in this generation… that is something that should change,” Rashford told the BBC. “You should feel free if you want to ask for help…hold your head up high and, if you need help, go and get help.

“…we had to think about the best way to do it, to think about how these families can eat long term and not have issues. We wanted to do it the best way…introduce the best people into our group, and see if using them (we) can push it even more,” added Rashford.

Sandhu on Playing Abroad

According to Indian football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu of Bengaluru FC, who has played abroad and is one of the only Indian to appear at the UEFA Europa League, says players have to start from scratch to establish themselves at the foreign clubs. 

"I think it made me better by leaps and bounds as a player and in terms of mentality," Sandhu said in an Instagram live video chat with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). 

"It made me independent. The exposure didn't only help me as a player but made me tougher as a person. It makes you a person who can deal with every kind of situation," he said. 

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“There are a lot of sacrifices which one needs to make to achieve the desired results, he added. “I don't want to sugarcoat things. Some people think that playing in a foreign country is about having a lavish lifestyle, big house, good car. It's not that at all. You have to start from scratch. You have to prove that you are good enough to be on the bench and then in the starting XI. And that's at a smaller club in a smaller league -- unless you're a Messi or a Ronaldo.” 

Sandhu played for Norwegian club Stabaek between 2014 and 2017 and returned to the India, joining Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL). 

Bayern’s Success and German Plans 

Bayern Munich defender Niklas Suele stated that the club’s season should inspire the national team in the future. Germany is preparing to host Spain in the Nations League opener on September 4, Friday.

“We have to keep the hunger for more titles after winning the treble with Bayern ,” said Suele in a news conference. “I now come here with a lot of joy, knowing how hard it is to come back after a 10-month absence.

“The Nations League is a good next step. We take any test, against any small or big opponent, seriously because we want to prepare for next summer,” he added. 

Bayern had a victorious season and won the domestic league, Cup double and dominated the Champions League in Lisbon winning its sixth European title. 

Totti Hopes to Rejoin Roma

Roma legend Francesco Totti hopes to rejoin Roma "sooner or later" and plans to reconnect with the club who has recently changed owners, he told Italian daily La Repubblica in an interview

Totti, 43, spent 24 years playing for the club before finally becoming its director.

In June 2019, he tendered his resignation after a fallout with US owner James Pallotta and the management, who, he said, kept him out of many decisions.

But since the club was sold to another businessman, Dan Friedkin, the conversation about the reconciliation between the ex-captain and the club could resume.

"It is natural to think that sooner or later Roma and I will meet again. But I am not fixing the moment, and above all, I am not waiting for it to happen by sitting idly at home," he said.

Even though Totti isn’t acquainted with the new owners of the club, he has shown his inclination to “have a coffee" with them.

Valdano’s Advice to Barcelona

Lionel Messi has already called it quits mentally as a player for FC Barcelona and is keen on continuing his career with some other club, said Jorge Valdano.

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi was not a part of Barcelona’s first day of pre-season training under Ronald Koeman on August 31, after he informed the club that he wished to leave.

Messi is of the opinion that a clause in his contract that ensures he could get a free transfer has been activated, even though the club and La Liga think his €700 million (£624m/$823m) release clause is going to continue till the time his contract gets terminated next June.

Many clubs are in the race to sign him -- Manchester City is considered to be the leader in this race with Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan also showing some interest.

Former Real Madrid forward, head coach and director-general Valdano is confident the 33-year-old's career path has drifted away from Camp Nou.

He thinks Barcelona has to accept that reality sooner rather than later or risk or risk the fate to get even more toxic.

"Either he goes to another club or to his home, but he has already left Barcelona. I am totally convinced. I have no doubt. The sooner Barcelona realise they are going to lose the best player in their history, the sooner they can focus on rebuilding." he said on the Onda Cero show El Transistor.

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