Aaron Wan-Bissaka punished by Manchester United for skipping training sessions

According to Duncan Castles via the Transfer Window podcast (h/t The Express), Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been punished by Manchester United for missing several training sessions in recent times. He has fallen down the pecking order under Ralf Rangnick and has seen Diogo Dalot pip him to the starting position at right-back.

Wan-Bissaka is claimed to have been absent for multiple training sessions, having used illness as a reason. Interestingly enough, he was out of contention during the winter break for the same reason. It is still unknown whether both these events have any connection with each other.

The Englishman had supposedly called in sick at least once, which was “unusual” since it is the club doctors who usually assess the problems. Man United have disciplined him following these events, with some teammates also questioning his attitude while engaged in training sessions.

This is according to Duncan Castles, whose claims make for a sobering read. If he was in fact skipping training, then Wan-Bissaka will need to face the music for his lack of professionalism.

“My information is that he has missed a lot of training sessions. I’m told that on at least one occasion he failed to turn up to training, citing illness as a reason, calling in to say that he was ill and that’s why he wasn’t coming in for training.”

Not another one

It is frustrating to see how things have begun to unravel at the club, indicating how poorly run it is at times. The 24-year-old did not feature in several games in January due to illness, but we are unsure whether this piece of information has anything to do with his absence.

However, if Wan-Bissaka really is at fault, then it was good on the club’s part not to let this slide and nip it in the bud. We are still in the dark about what the punishment was, but we do hope that it is enough to discourage the defender or anyone else who is likely to follow in his lead.

But one must question the reason for such an occurrence and why the Red Devils star was tardy- if the supposed allegations are true. The recent situation following Jesse Lingard’s failed transfer to Newcastle United and Ralf Rangnick’s incident with Anthony Martial before the Frenchman’s loan move to Sevilla are some of the examples where the players’ behaviour has been questionable.

One look at the other teams in Europe who have enjoyed success in recent times would tell us all that is wrong with our club. There seems to be an air of unpleasantness at Old Trafford and a cleansing might be required. There will always be competition for places, but how the club deals with it behind closed doors is what matters.

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Wan-Bissaka has been effectively dislodged as the first-choice right-back by Diogo Dalot under Rangnick. Although, there is nothing to suggest that his falling down the pecking order has anything to do with this incident. The board, however, has to take a look within the camp to prevent such debacles in the future.

The former Crystal Palace defender has trained in the week leading up to tonight’s FA Cup fixture against Middlesbrough, and it remains to be seen if he starts on the right flank for us. Hopefully, this issue will also be cleared up by Rangnick in one of his subsequent press conferences.