Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has revealed he is ready to leave his boyhood club after being ruled out of the Manchester derby by manager Ruben Amorim.
Rashford, along with team-mate Alejandro Garnazzo, was left out of United’s squad for Sunday’s clash with Manchester City as Amorim made it clear he expects his players to meet certain “standards”.
The England international has faced increasing criticism for his performances and attitude over the past 18 months, in stark contrast to his impressive 30-goal campaign under Erik ten Hag during the 2022-23 campaign.
Amorim’s bold call to leave out Rashford and Garnacho finally paid off, with United coming from behind to secure a 2-1 win over their rivals.
Following that decision, reports have emerged suggesting Rashford could leave the club in 2025, while a potential loan move is also mooted.
In an interview with journalist Henry Winter, Rashford admitted he feels “ready for a new challenge”.
He said: “Personally for me I think I am ready for a new challenge and the next steps.
🚨 Marcus Rashford: “For me, personally, I’m ready for a NEW challenge and the next steps,” he said @henrywinter.
“When I leave I will have ‘no hard feelings.’ You’re not going to get any negative comments from me about Man United.”
“This is me. I will always be red.” pic.twitter.com/KKtuXjohMJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 17, 2024
“When I leave I will have ‘no hard feelings.’ You are not going to get any negative comments from me about Manchester United. This is me as a person.
“If I know a situation is already bad, I’m not going to make it worse. I’ve seen other players leave before and I don’t want to be that person. When I leave I will make a statement and it will be from me.”
When asked if he will always remain a ‘Red’, Rashford confirmed his belief, saying: ‘Yes! 100% 100%.”
Reflecting on being left out of the derby, Rashford admitted it was hard to swallow.
“It’s disappointing to be left out of the derby,” he admitted. “But it happened, we won the game, so let’s move on. It’s frustrating, but I’m also someone who as I’ve gotten older can handle 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.”
Despite recent struggles, Rashford remains confident of his ability to adapt to Amorim’s system, noting that while he can play in multiple positions, certain roles come more naturally to him.
Marcus Rashford says he is ‘ready for a new challenge’ when asked if he could leave Manchester United 🗞 pic.twitter.com/HFHtr9Ibht
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 17, 2024
“I have characteristics to play in all three positions. Some positions are more natural for me, some positions I need to train more and do a little more regular (work). The left side suits me better,” he explained.
“The left 10 still suits me, but you have to adjust your game. The biggest skill set is adaptability. People may not see it, but eventually they will see that I have played in many different positions under all the coaches.
“I’m halfway through my career. I don’t expect my climax 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 develop as a player and as a person.
“So I have no regrets for the last nine years. I won’t regret 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.”
