Marcus Rashford has just had a ‘surreal’ Zoom call with Barack Obama
It’s not everyday you get to hop onto a Zoom call with Barack Obama.
Well, for the vast majority of us, the opportunity to speak directly with the former President of the United States is never actually going to present itself – but it’s hard to deny that Marcus Rashford deserves it after the year he’s had.
In a call organised by Penguin Books UK, the 23-year-old Wythenshawe-born Manchester United star was able to meet virtually with the 44th US president to chat about everything from the importance of giving back to your local community and the positive impact of reading – a cause which Rashford heavily champions – the to other themes from Obama’s memoir, A Promised Land.
The pair also spoke about some of their shared experiences, which include being raised by single mothers and wanting to make an impact on society.
“It’s quite surreal isn’t it?” Rashford said of the call.
“I’m sitting in my kitchen in Manchester, speaking to President Obama, but immediately, he made me feel at ease.
“It wasn’t long before I realised just how aligned our experiences as children were in shaping the men you see today – adversity, obstacles and all [and] I genuinely enjoyed every minute of it.
“When President Obama speaks, all you want to do is listen.”
The praise wasn’t just one sided though, as Mr Obama also had plenty of positive things to say about the young footballer and everything he’s achieved: “A lot of the young people I meet – including Marcus – they’re ahead of where I was when I was 23.
“They’re already making changes and being positive forces in their communities.”
Rashford made Manchester proud last year when he spearheaded a prominent campaign to tackle child food poverty in the UK during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which ultimately led to 1.7 million vulnerable children being supported by a £520 million government scheme and other projects have helped deliver 130 million meals.
He has also launched a food education and cooking project for children – Full Time Meals – with renowned British chef, Tom Kerridge.
You can watch the full conversation between Marcus Rashford and Barack Obama on the Penguin Books UK YouTube channel today from 2pm.
Featured Image – Penguin Books UK