Rashford looking for Man Utd exit, ´ready for new challenge´

Marcus Rashford said he has “no hard feelings” towards Manchester United but is “ready for a new challenge” as he outlined his desire to leave his boyhood club.

Rashford has endured a topsy-turvy United career, making more than 400 appearances, starring as their main man at times and being reduced to a fringe role at others.

The latter looks to be Rashford’s current status after being left out of Sunday’s win over rivals Manchester City entirely by new boss Ruben Amorim.

Rashford had scored three goals in Amorim’s first three matches in charge, but he and Alejandro Garnacho were absent for the City victory, after which their manager discussed the importance of “the performance in training, the performance in games, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you engage with your team-mates, the way you push”.

Although Amorim suggested Rashford could return for United’s next match against Tottenham in the EFL Cup, reports have claimed the club are open to selling their academy product.

And Rashford has now announced he is looking for a move in an interview with Henry Winter, published on X.

“For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” Rashford said.

“When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings’. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.

“If I know that a situation is already bad, I’m not going to make it worse.

“I’ve seen how other players have left in the past, and I don’t want to be that person. When I leave, I’ll make a statement, and it will be from me.”

People want to know what Man Utd means to me! pic.twitter.com/XNBNxnKN66

— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) May 25, 2024

Rashford has three times scored more than 20 goals in a season, with his best campaign in 2022-23 bringing 30, including one in the EFL Cup final win over Newcastle United.

That is one of five major honours won as a United player, yet Rashford believes “100%” his best is yet to come.

“I’m halfway through my career,” the 27-year-old told Winter. “I don’t expect my peak to be now.

“I’ve had nine years so far in the Premier League, and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person. So, I don’t have any regrets from the last nine years.

“I won’t have any regrets going forward, because I take things day by day, and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I just try to keep a fine balance.”

Rashford has more United goals (87) and goal contributions (127) in the Premier League than any other player since his debut in 2016.

However, United have actually fared better without Rashford in the team. Sunday’s game at the Etihad Stadium was the 45th he has missed in the Premier League and their 26th win; that win percentage of 57.8% without Rashford compares to 50.9% with him involved.

Asked to reflect on Amorim’s decision at the weekend, Rashford, who described himself as “misunderstood”, said: “It’s disheartening to be left out of a derby, but it’s happened, we won the game, so let’s move on.

“It’s disappointing, but I’m also someone as I’ve got older [who] can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it, or do my best the next time I’m available?”