Van der Sar reveals Rashford respect after Europa League final gesture

The Ajax CEO was impressed how the teenage striker remained grounded after helping the Old Trafford side to victory in Sweden

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has heaped praise upon the club’s young striker, Marcus Rashford.

Van der Sar, who is now CEO at Ajax after a successful playing career that included playing over 250 times for the Red Devils, spoke of an incident following last season’s Europa League final.

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United won the fixture 2-0, but while his team-mates were off celebrating, youth product Rashford took some time to think of the ex-goalkeeper’s family.

“The funny thing, that is nice, is my son also played in the academy at United and, when the players collected the trophy [in Stockholm], Marcus asked: ‘How is your son doing?’” Van der Sar told the club’s website.

“It was a nice little touch and I wish him, of course, all the best for the coming year in the United team.”

Meanwhile, Van der Sar is impressed with the player’s on-field development, too.

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“The moments that he got under Louis van Gaal, and the times with Jose Mourinho, we have seen his electric pace and good technique,” he said.

The 19-year-old got an assist as Man Utd defeated West Ham 4-0 on the opening day of the Premier League season. 

Meanwhile, Edwin’s son, Joe, who is the same age as Rashford, is currently playing with ADO Den Haag’s Under-21s.