A move away from Manchester United seems all but inevitable for Marcus Rashford and could become a reality during the January transfer window.
The writing was on the wall since the 27-year-old revealed he was “ready for a new challenge” in an interview with Henry Winter before Christmas. And Ruben Amorim's reaction has only strengthened the belief that Rashford is on his way to Old Trafford.
The likes of AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and West Ham have expressed their interest in the player, who could leave United on loan this month. However, it is understood the Red Devils would prefer a permanent split if they were to part ways with their star, who has not featured in any of United's last six matches.
After twenty years at his boyhood club, it will be an emotional farewell when the English striker eventually leaves United. Mirror Football has explored the path that led Rashford to his current predicament, which includes falling out with not one but two of his bosses.
Rashford in tears
Questions have been asked over the past year about Rashford's efforts and whether the club still means as much to him as it used to. The homegrown product entered the senior market as a teenager in early 2016 and has seen peaks and valleys in form over the years.
So it goes without saying that Rashford was more emotional than most after United's FA Cup win over Manchester City last season. After scoring a career-high 30 goals in all competitions in the previous campaign, his contribution plummeted despite winning major trophies.
But he nevertheless cut a candid figure online, uploading a photo of himself in tears, reacting to the FA Cup success. Rashford cheered on fans in the image, which was captioned: “People want to know what Man United means to me!”
Having joined the club at the age of seven, Rashford will undoubtedly be struck by the prospect of leaving the only club he has ever known. That's despite the fact that fans and bosses alike may not agree with all of his actions during a difficult period for everyone associated with the club.
Despite all this, the player has emphasized his commitment to the club and the cause has remained steadfast. And in the moments after their biggest win under Erik ten Hag, it became clear how much Rashford truly wants the best for United.
Managerial conflict
But it wasn't smiles and silverware under Ten Hag's tutelage. In fact, the Dutchman was tasked with guiding United through Rashford's most unruly moments as he appeared to go through a period of rebellion amid the struggle for results on the pitch.
Ten Hag first dropped Rashford in November 2023 as punishment for throwing a birthday party after a 3-0 derby defeat at home to Manchester City. But things got worse in 2024 when he missed an FA Cup tie with Newport County after reportedly visiting the city in Belfast.
Rashford reportedly went on a 12-hour drinking spree in Northern Ireland before falling into bed at 3am, calling in sick for training and missing the FA Cup match days later. It is understood he has been fined two weeks' wages, and the club has issued a statement saying the situation has been handled “as an internal disciplinary matter”.
Ten Hag showed his anger by leaving Rashford out of his squad, although it wasn't long before he was back in the fold. United legend Gary Neville said at the time: “I know he's going through a dip in form at the moment but it's happened twice and it can become your personality sometimes if you're not careful.”
Amorim stump
Early signs were clear that Amorim was unhappy with Rashford before the player announced he was ready to move on. Rashford made the comments just days after being left out of United's squad for a derby win against Manchester City, which could have been the final spark to inspire his outburst.
There is a case to be made that Amorim would be best off using Rashford while he still can, to get the most out of his team, internal conflict or not. But the manager appeared to make his feelings clear after Rashford failed to come off the bench during a 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle last month.
“I think about the team. You think about Marcus a lot,” he told reporters, who asked about the striker's absence despite being part of the matchday squad. “I think about the team. When I'm there, I don't make a point. I just want to win the game.”
It spoke volumes that Rashford was not used by the boss despite United's desperate position, not just in that game but in general as they sit 13th in the Premier League. Amorim has been reluctant to talk about Rashford's situation, but there is little about their relationship that seems positive at the moment.
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