‘I’m ready for a new challenge’ – Marcus Rashford drops emotional Man United transfer message ahead of January Old Trafford exit

‘I’m ready for a new challenge’ – Marcus Rashford drops emotional Man United transfer message ahead of January Old Trafford exit

By declaring that he is “ready for a new challenge and the next steps” in his career, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford seems to have cleared the path for his departure from Old Trafford.

With 138 goals in 426 games for his boyhood club, Rashford rose from United’s academy ranks to become a first-team star at the Theatre of Dreams in 2015.

Rashford has contributed to the Red Devils winning six trophies over that period, including two FA Cup trophies and the 2017 Europa League title.

However, Rashford has had a severe fall over the past 18 months after having his best-ever season in goal, scoring just 15 goals across all competitions since the end of 2022–2023.

Rashford has also been frozen out by the England national team since missing out on Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad 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 it would be from the heart as he will always be a Red, 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.’