Marcus Rashford has reportedly taken his Manchester United teammates by surprise with his admission that he is open to leaving his lifelong club.
The 27-year-old, who joined the Premier League giants at the age of seven, seems to be nearing the end of his 20-year association with Old Trafford.
After being excluded from Ruben Amorim’s squad for the Manchester Derby last week, the England international revealed to journalist Henry Winter that he has accepted the possibility of leaving United to pursue a new challenge. ..Continue Reading
Though Rashford has struggled to replicate his stellar 2022/23 season, where he netted 30 goals in all competitions, his revelation shocked many, including his United teammates.
According to The Independent, the squad believed Rashford was focused on reclaiming his spot in the starting lineup, rather than contemplating a move elsewhere.
“One of the major developments of the week was Marcus Rashford’s announcement that he is now open to leaving Manchester United, although it did cause some surprise among teammates who expected him to want to stay to fight for his place,” the publication reports.
“The news has naturally caused sadness that it has come to this for a homegrown player, but we’re some way from the end of this. Rashford’s anticipated asking price and wages could come to a collective £100m for any club interested, which is why few have even considered it so far.
“That may change as the January market gets going, but it’s currently going to take a lot to move him. The irony is that, as sad as it seems, it does feel like all parties could just do with a change.” Rashford remained out of the matchday squad in United’s 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Thursday (December 19).
Having stated his omission in United’s 2-1 victory over Man City was disappointing, Rashford said when he ends up leaving the club, he’ll want an exit unlike the acrimonious departures of past players.
“When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings’,” he stated. “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 remains to be seen whether he makes a return to the squad in United’s league clash against Bournemouth on Sunday (December 22).
