Rashford ‘grows close’ to stunning semi-pro padel player as pair are spotted

ENGLAND football ace Marcus Rashford appears to have found a real smasher in semi-pro padel star Jaki Palm.

The Manchester United star, 27, was this week pictured chatting to the Swedish beauty and a female pal in St Tropez.

She was seen in the French resort gazing attentively at the forward who had several chains around his neck.

Jaki is based in Dubai is understood to have connected with Rashford when he visited in April.

A source said: “Marcus went to have rehab for a hamstring injury in Dubai and was introduced to Jaki.

“She then joined him with his mates and another woman in St Tropez for a holiday. It’s all very casual but Jaki has told her friends she’s grown close to him.

“She’s being very coy about it. But Marcus is playing the field like young men his age. He is just having fun in the Premier League off-season and he’s had a rough time with his hamstring so to see him having a laugh is what the doctor ordered.”

Jaki describes herself as an entrepreneur and often shares sexy selfies on her Instagram account, which has 10,000 followers.

She also creates content that she says gives her followers “a front row seat to my padel journey.”

On a subscription site for fans, Jaki wrote: “From epic rallies to behind-the-scenes chaos — follow me for laughs, skills and everything padel.”

Padel, a cross between tennis and squash, is one of the world’s fastest-growing racket sports.

Marcus, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, was last linked to Love Island: All Stars’ Grace Jackson.

She opened up about their complex relationship on the ITV show earlier this year.

She said: “We weren’t dating but we were chatting a little and texting. It’s difficult because he can’t go out and just go on a normal date.

“All these f****g United fans were like commenting, thousands of comments on my pictures, like, ’cause they loved me.

“When the article came out (about them) he scored two goals and he hadn’t scored for ages, so they said, ‘You fixed him’.”