Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has revealed that he is willing to leave his boyhood club following his exclusion from the Manchester derby by manager Ruben Amorim.
Rashford, along with teammate Alejandro Garnacho, have been left out of United’s squad for Sunday’s clash against Manchester City as Amorim made it clear he expects his players to meet certain “standards”.
The England international has faced increasing criticism for his performances and attitude over the past 18 months, a stark contrast to his impressive 30-goal season under Erik ten Hag during the 2022-23 campaign.
Amorim’s bold decision to omit Rashford and Garnacho finally paid off, and United came back to secure a 2-1 victory over their rivals.
Following this decision, reports have emerged suggesting that Rashford could leave the club in 2025, with a possible loan deal also being discussed.
In an interview with journalist Henry Winter, Rashford admitted that he feels “ready for a new challenge.”
He said: “For me personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and next steps.
🚨 Marcus Rashford: “For me personally, I’m ready for a NEW challenge and next steps,” he said @henrywinter.
“When I leave there will be no hard feelings. “You are not going to get any negative comments from me about Man United.”
“That’s me. I will always be a Red.” pic.twitter.com/KKtuXjohMJ
—Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 17, 2024
“When I leave there will be no hard feelings. You’re not going to get any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.
“If I know that a situation is already bad, I am not going to make it worse. I’ve seen other players leave in the past and I don’t want to be that person. When I leave I will make a statement and it will be mine.”
When asked if he would always remain a “red”, Rashford reaffirmed his loyalty, saying: “Yes! 100%. 100%.”
Reflecting on his exclusion from the derby, Rashford admitted it was a difficult pill to swallow.
“It’s heartbreaking to be left out of a derby,” he admitted. “But it’s over, we won the game, so let’s move on. It’s disappointing, but I’m also someone who, as I get older, can handle setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it. Or do the best you can the next time you are available.”
Despite recent problems, Rashford remains confident in his ability to adapt to Amorim’s system, noting that while he can play in multiple positions, some roles come more naturally to him.
Marcus Rashford said he is ‘ready for a new challenge’ when asked if he could leave Man United 🗞 pic.twitter.com/HFHtr9Ibht
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 17, 2024
“I have characteristics to play in all three positions. Some positions are more natural for me, in others I have to train more and do a little more tactics (work). The left side suits me better,” he explained.
“The left number 10 still suits me but you have to adapt your game. The greatest skill set is adaptability. People may not see it, but eventually they will see that I have played a lot of different positions with all the coaches.
“I’m halfway through my career. I don’t expect my peak to be now. I have been in the Premier League for nine years so far and that has taught me a lot, it has helped me grow as a player and as a person.
“So I have no regrets about the last nine years. I won’t regret it in the future because I take things day by day and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I’m just trying to keep a good balance. 100% (the best is yet to come). That’s my mentality.”
