Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United star whose free school meals campaign forced the government into a u-turn earlier this month, has join Roc Nation, the American talent agency founded by Shawn Carter, better known as Beyonce’s other half Jay-Z.
The Telegraph has today reported that the footballer actually signed to the agency in April, and now represents him in his philanthropic work as well as PR and marketing. His brothers, Dane and Dwaine, still represent him as a footballer.
While Rashford’s lauded initiative – which saw Boris Johnson eventually agree to extend its free school meals voucher system for low-income families in England over the summer holidays – was the player’s idea, Roc Nation provided support.
Founded as a music talent agency by Jay-Z, its artists include singers Rihanna and Alicia Keys but it has now moved into sport. Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng signed in 2015, and it now also represents the likes of Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings.
“We don’t really consider ourselves a traditional agency – we really are a movement,” said Michael Yormark, the president of Roc Nation Sports International, adding that it was focused on “protecting and defending those that can’t protect and defend themselves”.
