Marcus Rashford: Man Utd forward says he is ready for new challenge

Marcus Rashford, a forward for Manchester United, has expressed that he is "prepared for a new challenge" when discussing his future at the club.

Marcus Rashford, 27, was excluded from the lineup for the derby match on Sunday, which Manchester United won 2-1 against Manchester City.

New head coach Ruben Amorim clarified that his decision wasn't due to any disciplinary problems. However, he suggested that he was expecting to witness more engagement and performance from the England player both during games and in training during the initial few weeks of his tenure.

In a conversation with football journalist Henry Winter shared on X, Rashford mentioned, "If I'm aware that things are already difficult, I won't add to the problems. I've witnessed how other players have departed in previous years, and I don't want to be one of them."

"When I decide to go, I'll share my thoughts, and they'll come directly from me."

"When I go, there will be no hard feelings. You won't hear any negative remarks from me about Manchester United. That's just how I am."

"I feel that I'm prepared to take on a new challenge and move forward."

Since his debut in 2016, Rashford has found the back of the net 138 times in 426 games for the club, having developed through the youth academy at United.

The 2022-23 season was his most successful, as he netted a total of 30 goals across all competitions.

Over the last 18 months, he has faced difficulties with his performance and has received criticism from analysts and supporters for several lackluster appearances.

When questioned about his choice to leave Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of the matchday lineup at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Amorim clarified, "I want to emphasize that it wasn't related to any disciplinary issues."

"In the upcoming week, there's a new match and fresh opportunities as players compete for their positions. What really matters to me is how well they perform during practice, how they play in games, their overall presentation, their eating habits, and how they interact with and support their teammates."

Gary Neville, a former captain of Manchester United, raised concerns about Rashford's professionalism after he traveled to the United States during the recent international break and was seen at an NBA game in New York.

Expanding on his current feelings, Rashford expressed that he feels "misunderstood." He mentioned, "It's tough to be excluded from a derby match, but it happened. We won the game, so it's time to move forward."

"It's frustrating, but as I've gotten older, I've learned to handle disappointments better. Instead of wallowing in it, I ask myself what I can do next. Should I just sit around feeling sorry for myself? Or should I put in my best effort the next time I get the chance?"

He also emphasized that the idea of returning to England's team with the new manager Thomas Tuchel "still thrills" him, despite not being selected by Gareth Southgate for this summer's European Championship in Germany, where the Three Lions were defeated by Spain in the finals.

Sources close to Rashford have indicated that he is feeling emotionally invested in his career at Manchester United. He has no intention of leaving Old Trafford and, ideally, hopes to reclaim his spot in Ruben Amorim's starting lineup, remain there, and progress from there.

Nonetheless, Rashford has a practical mindset.

He observed the win against Manchester City on Sunday while sitting at home in front of the television.

Amorim tried to downplay the situation by claiming it was a fresh start, but Rashford and those in his inner circle are experienced enough to recognize that new managers often make significant changes by sidelining a prominent player. Typically, that player is someone whose role isn't central to their strategy.

Making a move in January can be complicated. Paris St-Germain is the team most commonly associated with Rashford, yet they are also the ones who have repeatedly distanced themselves from rumors about a transfer.

Besides Casemiro, Rashford has the highest salary at United. There aren't many teams worldwide that could offer him a similar paycheck.

At 27 years old and supposedly at the peak of his career, Rashford could attract attention from the Saudi Pro League. However, sources familiar with the player indicate that this may not be something Rashford is interested in.

Rashford has seen a clear illustration of someone who has transformed a difficult situation. Erik ten Hag wasn't keen on keeping Harry Maguire. If Maguire had been indifferent about his circumstances, he would have left a long time ago.

However, Maguire persevered, reclaimed his position, and ultimately remained at the club longer than Ten Hag did.

Rashford has the potential to change the course of this situation, but his statements indicate that this isn't how he's currently thinking.

He is prepared to take on a new challenge, but there's still the question of where that will be.