Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford ready for ‘new challenge’

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has indicated that he is ready to leave the Old Trafford-based club after not getting consistent chances in the first starting XI. The striker was left out by newly appointed head coach Ruben Amorim in the derby clash against Manchester City, which United won by 2-1.

Rashford isn’t in the best of forms in the ongoing season as he has scored seven goals and has provided three assists in 24 games across competitions. 

Furthermore, the 27-year-old is under the pump for his disciplinary issues in the ongoing season. Former United manager Erik Ten Hag had also left out Rashford, revealing the forward failed to attend team’s meetings. Rashford was also omitted from an FA Cup trip to Newport last season after a night out in Belfast.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Rashford signed a £325,000-a-week 4½-year contract extension at United in July 2023 and it would be interesting to note the club’s decision in the upcoming January transfer window. Rashford admitted that he has been misunderstood on many occasions.

“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.

“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.”

Manchester United will next take on Tottenham Hotspur in the quarterfinal of the EFL Cup.