Marcus Rashford: I Am Ready For A New Challenge Outside Manchester United

Marcus Rashford has paved the way to leave Manchester United by admitting publicly for the first time that he is “ready for a new challenge and the next steps” away from Old Trafford.

Rashford was excluded from United’s squad for Sunday’s 2-1 victory against Manchester City, with Ruben Amorim expressing his dissatisfaction with the England striker’s performance both on and off the pitch.

It did little to quell the talk around Rashford’s future in a week when it was revealed that United were open to selling the player amid concerns about his lifestyle.

In an interview with football writer Henry Winter published on X, Rashford said, “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.

“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.”

Asked about his decision to leave Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of Sunday’s squad following a dramatic 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium, Amorim said, “It is important to say it was not a disciplinary thing.

“Next week, next game, new life and they are fighting for the places.

“For me, what is important is the performance in training, the performance in-game, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you engage with team-mates and push team-mates.”

Speaking to Winter during a visit to his former primary school, Rashford admitted, “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.”