Following the drop in the Manchester derby, 27-year-old England star Marcus Rashford has publicly stated that he is ready to leave Manchester United for a new challenge. "Personally, I feel like I'm ready to take on a new challenge and take the next step." Marcus Rashford told England Register Henry Winter during a charity event at an elementary school.
That happened on Monday, the day after Rashford left Carrington early to return home due to illness during training. Players who are unwell are required to be examined by the team doctor according to United rules, and Rashford has been diagnosed with a high fever and has left the training centre. The next day, he returned to his alma mater, Barton Lane Elementary School, where he distributed 420 gifts and made a shocking remark about leaving the team.
Rashford added: 'I don't feel bad when I leave, but you don't hear anything negative about Manchester United from me, that's who I am. I will always be a Red Devil. If I knew the situation was already bad, I wouldn't let it get worse. I've seen the way other players have left in the past and I don't want to be like that. So, when I'm leaving, I'll make a statement and just say something about myself."
Rashford is aggrieved by the criticism he has received, and people have misunderstood him. 「I do feel like I'm being misunderstood, but I don't have an opinion. I'm a very simple person and I love football. That's what I've lived since the beginning.」
The United star admits he was disappointed not to be out of the derby: 'It's frustrating to be left out of the derby, but it's happened and we won the game, so let's keep going. It's disappointing, but I'm also a human being, and I'm grown up and I can handle setbacks. What should I do? Just sit there and cry, or do what I can next time I can play. I'm halfway through my career and I don't think it's the pinnacle. I've been playing for nine years now and the Premier League has taught me a lot and helped me grow as a player and as a person.'
Asked if it didn't suit Amorim's 343 formation, Rashford said: "I can play in three positions up front in the 343 formation. There are some positions that come naturally to me, and there are positions that require me to train more and do more tactical work. The left side is best for me, the left midfielder is still right for me, but you have to adapt to the game and my biggest skill is adaptability. People may not see that, but eventually they will see that I have played a lot of different positions under all the coaches."
Marcus Rashford says one of his goals at leaving United will be to return to England for the World Cup. "I don't have any regrets about the last 9 years, I don't have any regrets because I try every day, sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen, I just try to maintain a good balance. I am still excited about the World Cup, which is representing my country in the biggest competition in the world. I've had the opportunity to do this before, and it's been an incredible experience. If I have another chance, I will try to grasp it with both hands."
Marcus Rashford could have continued to work hard and train harder after the derby defeat to try to make a difference in Thursday's Carabao Cup semi-final. But he chose to tell the British media that he planned to leave. This mentality is believed to be where Manchester United are intent on purging him and manager Ruben Amorim is not happy with him.
Back in January, the 27-year-old had already been deemed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS management to be a departure from the dressing room culture they wanted for a third breach of former manager Ten Hag's rules.
New boss Amorim was unhappy with Marcus Rashford's performances on the training pitch and his overall behaviour, which ultimately led to his omission from the Manchester derby squad for last Sunday.
According to British media, Manchester United's technical director Jason Wilcox fully supports Amorim's idea of excluding Rashford from the squad due to the lack of effort on the training ground. Manchester United boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe agrees that the dressing room needs to be cleaned up.
Although left winger rival Alejandro Garnacho had to watch Manchester United's match against Manchester City at home for the same reason, he is at least not a 'repeat offender' and at just 20 years old, he is not considered the 'big brother' in the team who should be a role model. While Amorim has made it clear that he will not tolerate anyone's slackness, Garnacho still has a chance, unlike Rashford, who has already gone to the edge of the cliff. With a stunning barb goal against Everton, Garnacho has just won the 2024 Puskas Award.
Because since the beginning of the year or even the end of last year, the club has been giving Rashford a chance and wants him to come back. However, the academy star doesn't seem to be doing so. The question now is whether any team will want to buy him next year due to the club signing him a long-term contract extension of £325,000 a week last year, coupled with his form.
Arsenal reporter Charles Watts said: "Marcus Rashford has also been linked with a move to Arsenal in the past. He always seems to be the focus of rumors, and fans talk about him a lot. But given his condition at Manchester United...... If it had been Marcus Rashford a few years ago, then I would have thought differently, but if that were the case, then he should be playing for United every week now.'
Manchester United's Carabao Cup quarter-final trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday will be in the spotlight, with Marcus Rashford scoring in every round of the competition, including the final, in the 2022/23 season, the pinnacle of his career. Will Amorim still give him a chance, and will Master Ra be able to mend his ways? His teammates have reminded him that if he wants to succeed again, he must have the determination to endure hardships.
Rashford and Garnacho, who was hidden at the same time as him, both have the problem of only being willing to enjoy star treatment, playing the main force unconditionally, and not being criticized after success. As a fledgling, Marcus Rashford was very the pitch and low-key off the pitch. However, as he became famous, he rested on his laurels in the game and became arrogant outside of the game, often ignoring the cries of the English media and even the fans, dropping his gloves on the ground instead of handing them to the shirt caretaker when he came off the bench in the Europa League against Bodø.
Diogu Darlow reminded them: "If you want to succeed at this club, you have to be prepared to suffer. If you're willing to work with us, Manchester United will be a good team; If not, there is no room for you. This applies not only to football, but also to life. Only when you endure hardship can you become a superior person."
Amorim also stressed when he dropped Rashford and Garnacho that the door is not closed for the two to return to the team, as long as the training, life and other aspects meet their own standards, they can return, but Rashford was not able to prove himself in training on Monday due to physical discomfort.
ESPN's Manchester United correspondent Mark Odenge says staying remains Rashford's best bet. He and his agent brother are still building an image of their love for Manchester United. After the Manchester derby, Coach La's posting praise for his team-mates and his brother Dwayne Maynard was afraid that people would not understand it, and specifically commented: "As you say, all you want is United to win. Regardless of anything else.)。」
Marcus Rashford's family spoiled him after he became famous, and when the United star was criticised, they jumped out to support him. At the beginning of the year, his mother, Melanie, went into a frenzy in The Times, angrily denouncing Rashford for having a "wolf in sheep's clothing".
Even when asked if he would support United forever, even when announcing his intention to take on a new challenge, Rashford replied: "Yes! 100 percent, 100 percent!"
Now that Rashford has decided to leave, where will his next home be? Marcus Rashford is not available at any other big club in the Premier League, and the mid-table teams can't afford him, so it's unlikely that he will stay in England. The Saudi Arabian Pro League can afford it, but Master Pull looks down on the Middle East, he will not go to the gold panning, and it can also be ruled out. Similarly, there are the major leagues, which are leagues that players only go to in the twilight of their careers.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, another lucrative option is the Turkish Super League. But despite the willingness of teams such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas and other top Turkish teams to pay high salaries, they do not have a tradition of paying sky-high transfer fees. Galatasaray acquired Osimhen from Napoli in September on loan, while United are unlikely to offer Rashford on loan.
Manchester United sources told ESPN that PSG's interest was a factor in the club's compulsion to sign Rashford to a new five-year max contract in July 2023, but there is no indication yet that Paris will try to bring him to the Parc des Princes in Paris again, and now, Paris are also focused on signing the best goblins in France and beyond.
Sources also predict that if United are prepared to see off Marcus Rashford in January, the Bundesliga will become an option, provided that the pattern of Jadon Sancho joining Borussia Dortmund is repeated. No one in the Bundesliga, including Bayern, wants to match Rashford's wages.
Among the Serie A and La Liga teams, only Real Madrid can afford the financial pressure to sign Rashford, but the "Galaxy Battleship" has no shortage of wingers, and Ancelotti has no interest in Manchester United's demon star. So, while Rashford claims to want a new challenge, finding a new club for him is a challenge in itself.
The Manchester Evening News reported that Manchester United could try to cut prices significantly to attract potential buyers, from the peak of 100 million pounds to the rumored 40 million pounds, which may not be enough, and the current Rashford may only be worth 25 million pounds!