Rashford ready for 'challenge' away from Man Utd

Ogden: Rashford's choices are a 'disheartening situation' (1:31)

Mark Ogden responds to remarks from Marcus Rashford concerning his future at Manchester United. (1:31)

Mark Ogden, a senior author at ESPN FC, reported on December 17, 2024, at 8:06 PM.

Marcus Rashford has suggested he might leave Manchester United, expressing that he feels "prepared for a fresh challenge." He described his omission from manager Ruben Amorim's lineup for the derby victory over Manchester City as "disheartening."

Rashford, 27, and winger Alejandro Garnacho did not make the team for the 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. Amorim clarified his choice by stating that factors such as "how well they train, their game performance, their attire, their eating habits, and their interactions with fellow players" all played a significant role in his decision.

This season, Rashford's performance has led to him being benched and not starting in the first team. Additionally, he has faced some personal challenges lately, including being sidelined by his former manager, Erik ten Hag, for skipping team meetings and training. He was also left out of an FA Cup match against Newport last season due to a night out in Belfast.

Amorim, who took over as manager from Ten Hag last month, emphasized that both players will begin anew this week. However, Rashford has now addressed his situation for the first time since being benched against City and has strongly hinted that he is considering leaving Old Trafford, nearly nine years after he first joined the team as an 18-year-old.

In my opinion, I feel prepared to take on a new challenge and move forward in my career," Rashford shared with Henry Winter during an event at a school in Manchester. "When the time comes for me to leave, there won't be any hard feelings. You won't hear any negative remarks from me regarding Manchester United. That's just who I am.

"If I'm aware that things are already tough, I won’t add to the problems. I've watched how other players have exited before, and I don't want to follow in their footsteps."

"When I decide to leave, I will share my thoughts directly. It’s disappointing not to be included in a Derby, but that’s in the past. We won the game, so it’s time to move forward."

"It's frustrating, but as I've grown older, I've learned to handle disappointments better. Instead of wallowing in sadness, I ask myself what I can do to improve next time."

In July 2023, Rashford agreed to a contract extension with United worth £325,000 per week for 4½ years. If the club receives any offers for him in the January transfer window, they would expect a significant transfer fee.

According to information obtained by ESPN, there isn't much interest in Rashford from European teams, and it appears that his most probable next move could be to the Saudi Pro League.

Even though Rashford was raised within Manchester United's youth system, he has faced criticism from the club's fans. He describes himself as a person who is often "misunderstood."

"I know that people might not get me, but that's okay," he shared. "I'm really just a straightforward guy. Football is my passion, and it's been that way for me since day one."

I'm at the midpoint of my career and don't anticipate hitting my best performance just yet. My nine years in the Premier League have been incredibly valuable, allowing me to learn and develop both as a player and an individual. I have no regrets about the experiences I've had over the past nine years.

I’m not worried about the future because I focus on living in the moment. Life has its ups and downs; some days are tough, while others are wonderful. I simply aim to maintain a good equilibrium.

I have my own aspirations, and I’ve accomplished some elements of them. However, I still haven’t reached my ultimate goal. The challenge is that when you do get to that place, you often find yourself setting new goals or creating new desires.

"It's a continuous loop that keeps going on. There's no definitive conclusion."

On Thursday, United will face Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals, taking place in North London.