Marcus Rashford Signs With Jay-Z's Roc Nation Agency
By Tom Gott
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has joined up with Jay-Z's Roc Nation agency and worked with the company in his fight to provide free school meals for disadvantaged children in the UK.
Rashford has done some outstanding work during football's absence, with perhaps his greatest accomplishment coming as he convinced the UK government to overturn their decision to halt the Free School Meals vouchers.
Only the beginning. Welcome to the family, @MarcusRashford! We’re so proud of what you have achieved off the pitch so far and we look forward to continuing to impact communities together. ✋? #RocFam @dnmaysportsmgt pic.twitter.com/q52DcEUfkX
— Roc Nation Sports (@RocNationSports) June 23, 2020
It has since emerged that Roc Nation were instrumental in helping Rashford use his platform in such a positive way, and the group confirmed (via the Daily Mail) that they have been managing Rashford's off-field activities since April.
"We can confirm that Roc Nation has represented Marcus Rashford since April 2020," a statement read.
"The representation is strictly off-field, encompassing philanthropy, PR and marketing, communications, digital strategy and commercial partnerships. DNMaysportsmgt continue to represent Marcus Rashford for all on-field activity."
Roc Nation will also work closely with Rashford's family, particularly brothers Dwaine Maynard and Dane Rashford, who manage his on-field career and helped negotiate the 22-year-old's new United contract last year.
"We look for those figures who stand for something beyond just the sport that they play," Kelly Hogarth, the director of brand strategy and business communications said (via The Telegraph).
"What [Rashford] did transcended race, transcended any social unrest that we're experiencing. This was a 22-year-old young man who was saying: 'No child should be going hungry in this country. That is unacceptable'.
Manchester ♥️ pic.twitter.com/9uGfXCXlIp
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 20, 2020
"And even if you were the meanest person in the world, it was an argument you just couldn't fight against. He was able to resonate with so many people by just being himself."
The agency made a huge splash in the American sports market before opening offices in the UK in December 2019, which has helped them pick up clients like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eric Bailly.