Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has revealed he is ready to leave his boyhood club after manager Ruben Amorim ruled him out of the Manchester derby.
Rashford, along with teammate Alejandro Garnacho, was left out of United’s squad for Sunday’s game against Manchester City as Amorim made it clear he expects certain “standards” from his players.
The England international has faced increasing criticism over his performances and attitude over the last 18 months, a stark contrast to his impressive 30-goal season under Erik ten Hag in the 2022-23 season.
Amorim’s bold decision to leave out Rashford and Garnacho ultimately paid off as United came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over their rivals.
Following this decision, reports emerged suggesting Rashford could leave the club in 2025, with a possible loan move also being discussed.
In an interview with journalist Henry Winter, Rashford admitted that he felt “ready for a new challenge”.
He said: “Personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.
🚨 Marcus Rashford: “Personally, I’m ready for a NEW challenge and the next steps,” he said @henrywinter.
“When I leave, there will be ‘no hard feelings.’ You won’t get any negative comments from me about Man United.”
“It’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 won’t get any negative comments from me about Manchester United. This is me as a person.
“If I know a situation is already bad, I won’t 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 from myself.”
When asked if he would always be a Red, Rashford reiterated his loyalty and said: “Yes! 100%. 100%.”
Reflecting on his absence from the derby, Rashford admitted it was a tough pill to swallow.
“It’s disheartening to be left out of a derby,” he admitted. “But it happened, we won the game, so let’s move on.” It’s disappointing, but I’m also someone who can deal with setbacks as I get older. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it. Or do my best the next time I’m available.”
Despite recent difficulties, Rashford remains confident of his ability to adapt to Amorim’s system, pointing out that while he can play in multiple positions, some roles are more natural to him.
Marcus Rashford said he was ‘ready for a new challenge’ when asked about leaving Man United 🗞 pic.twitter.com/HFHtr9Ibht
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 17, 2024
“I have characteristics that allow me to play in all three positions. Some positions are more natural for me, others I have to train more and do a little more tactical work. “The left side suits me best,” he explained.
“The left 10 still suits me, but you have to adapt your game. The greatest skill is adaptability. People may not see it, but eventually they will see that I have played many different positions under all the coaches.
“I’m halfway through my career. I don’t expect to reach my climax now. I have been in the Premier League for nine years so far and have learned a lot and developed as a player and as a person.
“So I don’t regret 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 just try to keep a good balance. 100% (the best is yet to come). That’s my mentality.”
