Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have jetted out on holiday together as the duo look to rest and recharge following the sickening racist abuse directed at them.
The two forwards are set to become team-mates together at Manchester United, after Sancho underwent his medical at Carrington ahead of completing his £73million move from Borussia Dortmund.
They are also close friends, and they will now spend their time away after England’s Euro 2020 final heartbreak – and before returning to training – living the high life in Turks and Caicos.
The picturesque island, which is in the Atlantic Ocean, is on the UK Government’s green list and will provide the Three Lions stars with the perfect backdrop while they soak up the sun during their getaway.
They were filmed by music artist Chibz boarding a private jet, and looked in high spirits while rapping away inside the jaw-droppingly sleek cabin.
Rashford and Sancho’s break comes just days after they were subjected to the vile abuse on social media, in the wake of both players missing their penalties in the shootout loss to Italy at Wembley.
Marcus Rashford (left) and Jadon Sancho (right) have jetted off on a lavish holiday together
Rashford opened up on the agony of missing his spot-kick, having been brought on in the final minute of extra-time to step up from 12 yards. His effort clipped the outside of the post, however, before Sancho and Bukayo Saka also failed to convert.
All three youngsters suffered the disgusting taunts online, and a mural of Rashford in Greater Manchester was even defaced. Locals have since covered up the graffiti with messages of support for the striker, though.
In a statement on Twitter on Monday, Rashford, 23, said: ‘I don’t even know how to put into words how I’m feeling at this exact time. I’ve had a difficult season and I probably went into that final with a lack of confidence.
‘I’ve always backed myself for a penalty but something didn’t feel quite right.
‘During the long run-up I was saving myself a bit of time and unfortunately the result was not what I wanted. I felt as though I had let my team-mates down.
‘A penalty was all I’d been asked to contribute for the team. I can score penalties in my sleep so why not that one?
‘It’s been playing over in my head – there’s probably not a word to describe how it feels. Final. Fifty-five years. One penalty. History. All I can say is sorry. I wish it had gone differently.
‘Whilst I continue to say sorry, I want to shout out my team-mates. A brotherhood has been built and that is unbreakable.
‘Your success is my success. Your failures are mine.’
On the abuse he received, he added: ‘I’ve grown into a sport where I expect to read things written about myself. Whether it be the colour of my skin, where I grew up or, most recently, how I decide to spend my time off the pitch.
‘I can take critique of my performance all day long, my penalty was not good enough. But I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from.
‘I’ve felt no prouder moment than wearing those three lions on my chest and seeing my family cheer me on in a crowd of 10s of thousands.
‘The messages I’ve received today have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears. The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up.
‘I’m Marcus Rashford, 23-year-old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, south Manchester. If I have nothing else I have that.
‘For all the kind messages, thank you. I’ll be back stronger. We’ll be back stronger.’
Sancho, meanwhile, issued his own heartfelt message and insisted ‘we need to do better as a society’, as he spoke out for the first time after abuse was sent to he and his ‘brothers’ Rashford and Saka.
Writing on Instagram, he said: ‘I’ve had a couple of days to reflect on Sunday’s final and still feel a mix of emotions. I would like to say sorry to all my team-mates, coaching staff and most of all the fans who I let down.
‘This is by far the worst feeling I’ve felt in my career. It’s hard to even put into words the real feeling, but there were so many positives to take away from this tournament though the defeat will hurt for a long time.
‘My first thought before going into any football match is always, “How can I help my team?, how am I going to assist? how am I going to score? how am I going to create chances?”
‘And that’s exactly what I wanted to do with that penalty, help the team. I was ready and confident to take it, these are the moments you dream of as a kid, it is why I play football. These are the pressured situations you want to be under as a footballer.
‘I’ve scored penalties before at club level, I’ve practised them countless times for both club and country so I picked my corner but it just wasn’t meant to be this time.’
It continued: ‘I’m not going pretend that I didn’t see the racial abuse that me and my brothers Marcus and Bukayo received after the game, but sadly it’s nothing new. As a society we need to do better, and hold these people accountable.
‘Hate will never win. To all the young people who have received similar abuse, hold your heads up high and keep chasing the dream.
‘I am proud of this England team and how we have united the whole nation in what has been a difficult 18 months for so many people. Much as we wanted to win the tournament, we will build and learn from this experience going forward.’
More to follow.