‘I’m ready for a new challenge’ – Marcus Rashford drops Manchester United transfer bombshell

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford appears to have paved the way for his departure at Old Trafford, revealing that he is ‘ready for a new challenge and the next steps’ in his career.

Rashford emerged from United’s academy ranks in 2015 to establish himself as a first-team star at the Theatre of Dreams, scoring 138 goals in 426 appearances for his boyhood club.

In that time, Rashford has helped the Red Devils win six pieces of silverware, including two FA Cup trophies and the Europa League crown in 2017.

But since enjoying his best-ever season in front of goal across an outstanding 2022/23 campaign, Rashford has found the back of the net just 15 times in all competitions.

Rashford has also been frozen out by the England national team since missing out on Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad in the summer and The Guardian reported on Monday that United had put the attacker up for sale.

‘For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,’ Rashford told Henry Winter in response to the latest reports over his future.

‘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.’

On whether such a statement would be from the heart given his history at United, Rashford replied: ‘Yes! 100 per cent. 100 per cent.’

The latest setback for Rashford came at the weekend as the 27-year-old was omitted from Ruben Amorim’s matchday squad for United’s thrilling derby win over Manchester City, along with Alejandro Garnacho.

But Rashford is determined to remain positive, aware that ‘sometimes bad things happen’ over the course of a sportsperson’s career.

He added: ‘I’m halfway through my career. 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 and keep a fine balance.’

Quizzed on whether the best is yet to come, Rashford responded: ‘100 per cent. That’s my mentality.’

Rashford, who has been capped 60 times by the Three Lions, is ‘excited’ by the prospect of working his way back into contention ahead of next year’s World Cup.

‘That still excites me. It’s playing for your country in the biggest competition in the world,’ he continued.

‘I’ve had the chance to do it before [Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022] and it’s an unbelievable experience. If I got the opportunity again, I’ll try and grab it with both hands.’

Though Rashford has failed to nail down a spot in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system at United, he is confident his adaptability stands him in good stead – regardless of what the future holds – after ‘playing in plenty of different positions’ under previous managers.

‘I have traits to play in all three positions [left wing, No.9 or No.10. Some positions are more natural to me, some positions I have to train more and do a bit more tactical [work]. The left side suits me the best,’ Rashford explained.

‘The left 10 still suits me but you have to adapt your game. The biggest skill-set is adaptability.

‘People might not see it but eventually they’ll see I’ve played in plenty of different positions under all the managers.’

Rashford’s current contract at United runs through to the summer of 2028.

Paris Saint-Germain have been credited with a strong interest in the forward in previous transfer windows and there has also been rumours of a possible move to the Saudi Pro League in January.

After Rashford’s omission against City, Amorim explained that his thinking was based on a number of factors, from a player’s diet to their choice of clothes on matchday.

‘We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with teammates, push their teammates up. Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple,’ the Portuguese told reporters.

‘I don’t want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it. The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection.

‘Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide.

‘There is a communication after the last training. They are alright. They had training this morning and I was there. They trained really well.’

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