Marcus Rashford: Manchester United star 'ready for a new challenge' and open to Old Trafford exit
Updated 18/12/2024 at 13:11 GMT
Marcus Rashford has admitted that he is "ready for a new challenge" in an interview with Henry Winter as his Manchester United future becomes unclear. The 27-year-old was left out of new boss Ruben Amorim's squad in United's huge comeback victory against rivals Manchester City. Rashford joined Man Utd's academy in 2005, has made 426 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 138 goals.
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Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has admitted he is "ready for a new challenge" and hinted that he could end his 19-year stay at the club.
In a bombshell interview with football journalist Henry Winter, United and England star Rashford opened up on his current situation and hinted that he could be ready to move on from his boyhood club.
Rashford, 27, was left out of new manager Ruben Amorim's squad in the club's remarkable 2-1 comeback victory over rivals Manchester City on Sunday.
Both he and recently crowned Puskas Award winner Alejandro Garnacho were omitted, with Amorim citing tactical reasons for his bold decision.
"It’s disheartening to be left out of a derby," Rashford told Winter. "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, I 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."
But whether there will be a next time remains to be seen, with the attacker "ready for a new challenge" as his United future hangs in the balance.
"For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps," he 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."
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Rashford, who spoke as if it was a matter of when, not if he leaves United, insisted there have been no regrets in a career where he has felt "misunderstood".
"I’m halfway through my career," Rashford added. "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.
"100% [the best is yet to come]. That's my mentality."
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Watch: The sensational Garnacho bicycle kick which won Puskas Award
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Rashford eyes England return
As well as his impressive record at United, where he has scored 138 goals in 426 matches, Rashford also boasts a respectable return in an England shirt.
He has represented his country on 60 occasions and netted 17 times, scoring eight goals in 23 games at major international tournaments: three in 11 at the FIFA World Cup and five in 12 at the UEFA European Championship.
"That still excites me," Rashford said, on potentially playing at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
"It's playing for your country in the biggest competition in the world. I've had the chance to do it before and it's an unbelievable experience.
"If I got the opportunity again, I'll try and grab it with both hands."
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