“I’m ready for a new challenge”: Rashford drops United exit bombshell in tell-all interview

Beleaguered Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has dropped a huge hint regarding his future and his comments seem to suggest a departure from his boyhood club is on the cards.

Manchester United’s memorable come-from-behind Manchester derby win on Sunday came in the absence of the Mancunian who was dropped the matchday squad by head coach Ruben Amorim.

Plenty have suggested that the club should get rid of the academy graduate and the England international told journalist Henry Winter that he is ready to take the next step in his career, indicating an exis is imminent.

“For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” Rashford said when asked about whether he will leave United.”

Marcus Rashford had a day off today so he returned to his old primary school, Button Lane, south Manchester, and handed out 420 Christmas presents to all the pupils. It was a long-planned event, eliciting delight from the children. One boy scarcely more than four years old, had a…

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) December 17, 2024

He further added that he is never going to badmouth his boyhood club despite the abuses he has received from sections of the fanbase during his recent lean patch and that he will forever be a Red.

“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.”

Sections of the media and plenty of pundits have pointed out his unsuitability to Amorim’s system especially due to his unwillingness to work hard out of possession.

But the 27-year-old has suggested that he is past what happened on Sunday and is looking forward to working hard to regain his place.

“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 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.”

He has excelled down the left but the Portuguese does not use the wings like United’s former managers and has already played Rashford up top, something that does not come naturally to the Englishman.

However, the forward believes he is versatile enough to manage and is ready to prove that he can play in multiple positions if need be.

“I have traits to play in all three positions. 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.”

“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.”

During the interaction at his old primary school, Button Lane in south Manchester, where Rashford went to hand out 420 Christmas presents to all the pupils, he also spoke about his desire to win back a place in the national team.

“That still excites me. It’s playing for your country in the biggest competition in the world. 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.”

There seems to be interest from Spain, as revealed by Winter and Rashford feels he is yet to hit his peak. Whether that comes at United or elsewhere remains to be seen.

The club is reportedly open to a sale should a sizeable bid be offered and a January exit could also be on the cards based on the interview.

Feature image Stephen Pond via Getty Images

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