Marcus Rashford may have hinted at a possible exit from Manchester United by saying he is “ready for a new challenge.”
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Rashford “ready for a new challenge”
The 27-year-old was dropped from Ruben Amorim’s squad for Sunday’s derby win against Manchester City.
Rashford and fellow winger Alejandro Garnacho were excluded from the squad for the 2-1 victory at the Etihad.
Amorim explained his decision, stating that “the performance in training, the performance in games, the way you dress, the way you eat, and the way you engage with teammates” were all key factors.
Rashford, who has struggled for form over the past two seasons, has spoken out for the first time since being dropped against City, hinting that he may be ready to leave Old Trafford after debuting for the club as an 18-year-old.
“For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” Rashford told Henry Winter during an event at a school in Manchester.
“When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings.’ You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.”
“If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse. I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person.”
“When I leave I’ll make a statement and it will be from me. It’s disheartening to be left out of a Derby, but it’s happened, we won the game so let’s move on.”
“It’s disappointing, but I’m also someone as I’ve got older I can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it. Or do my best the next time I’m available.”
Misunderstood figure
Rashford signed a £325,000-a-week, 4½-year contract extension at United in July 2023.
However, his contract would demand a hefty transfer fee if other clubs make offers during the January transfer window.
The England international joined the club at the age of seven, making his first-team debut at 18 with a stunning brace in a Europa League win over Midtjylland.
This marked the start of a meteoric rise, during which he has made 426 appearances and scored 138 goals to date.
After netting 17 Premier League goals in the 2022-23 season, Rashford’s form began to decline, and former head coach Erik ten Hag had to discipline him multiple times for off-field indiscretions.
Although Manchester-born Rashford is a homegrown talent produced by United, he has faced criticism from the club’s supporters.
Rashford insisted that he is a “misunderstood” figure.
“I do feel misunderstood, but I’m fine with it,” he said. “I’m a very simple person. I love football. That’s been my life from the beginning.”
“I’m halfway through my career. I don’t expect my peak to be now. I’ve had nine years so far in the Premier League and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person. So I don’t have any regrets from the last nine years.”
“I won’t have any regrets going forward because I take things day by day and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I just try and keep a fine balance.”
He added “I have my own dreams. I’ve achieved parts of it. But I’m not at where I want to be. But the problem is when you get there, you create another thing.”
“It’s a cycle that never stops. There’s not really an end point.”
