London (AFP)

England striker Marcus Rashford, victim of racist insults on social media after the loss to Italy in the Euro final, asked for forgiveness on Monday night for missing his shot on goal, but said that he "would never (apologize) for being who he is."

"I'm Marcus Rashford, a 23-year-old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe in south Manchester. If I have nothing else I have this," the Manchester United star wrote in a message moving on Twitter.

And to tell about his moods since his missed penalty, the racist insults on social networks, to which his teammates Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were also victims, also black and failing during the penalty shootout (3-2 tab for Italy) which sealed the defeat of England (1-1 at the end of extra time).

"A penalty was the only contribution to the team that I was asked to make. I can score even when sleeping, so why not this one?" He asked.

"I can't stop thinking about it since I hit the ball and there is probably no word to describe how I feel. (...) All I can say is that I'm sorry. I wish it had gone differently, "he continued.

In Withington, a mural of Marcus Rashford was covered in racist graffiti.

"You can criticize my performance all day, my penalty was not good enough, it should have come in, but I will never apologize for being who I am," said the player, who also tweeted a photo of this black and white fresco, where the graffiti was covered with English flags or multicolored messages, often in the shape of a heart.

Proud to have been part of the first English selection to reach a final in 55 years, Marcus Rashford praised the "unbreakable (...) brotherhood" which now binds him to other internationals.

The racist insults targeting Saka, Sancho and him were unanimously condemned Monday in England, where players have been victims of racism online for years.

During the Euro, the Three Lions had put their knees on the ground to denounce racism, an attitude widely commented on, and sometimes criticized, in England.

A police investigation is underway after this latest wave of racist insults.

© 2021 AFP