THE BIG DEBATE: Manchester United laid down a marker in their win at Manchester City and they didn't seem to miss Marcus Rashford, whose own future once again looks far from certain
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford's future is once again unclear
(
Image: Stephen Pond)
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Manchester United's new era under Ruben Amorim is now really up and motoring after Sunday's superb win in the Manchester derby - but the jury is still out on whether Marcus Rashford will be a part of it or not.
Alejandro Garnacho was also dropped against Manchester City, but make no mistake, Rashford was the glaring omission. And with the decision coming just days after suggestions that the club are willing to sell him, Rashford is seemingly approaching a career crossroads.
While Rashford has struggled for form over the last year, his 30-goal campaign back in 2022-23 is ample proof of what he can bring to the table. However, with funds tight and Rashford struggling to rediscover said form, would a parting of the ways be mutually beneficial for all parties? We asked the Mirror Football team for their thoughts...
Harry Maguire can't hide true feelings as he compares Ruben Amorim to Ten Hag
[
Gary Neville makes Marcus Rashford demand after ruthless Ruben Amorim decision](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-marcus-rashford-neville-34319660)
Daniel Orme
On reflection, Ruben Amorim was absolutely right to leave Rashford out given the 2-1 victory that the Red Devils secured. But could it do the Red Devils’ long-term chances more harm than good? Possibly.
The academy graduate is still one of United’s best players despite what has been a rollercoaster season. He is the club’s joint top scorer alongside captain Bruno Fernandes.
But it’s going to take a dramatic turnaround to see him back in the side, particularly given Amad’s form. And that is a real shame. It’s hard to see there being any route back so an exit might be best for all parties but there are limited options.
Paris Saint-Germain appear to be the most obvious candidates to sign him as one of the only clubs able to afford his lofty signature. Real Madrid don’t need him, while a move to Man City is surely a no-go at any stage.
Chelsea could emerge as a surprise suitor in an arrangement similar to the one that saw them secure the services of Jadon Sancho earlier this season. But surely the French capital is his future destination, with a move away from Old Trafford seeming like a foregone conclusion already.
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Ruben Amorim dropped Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho for Sunday's big game (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Jeremy Cross
It feels like the time has come for Marcus Rashford to leave Manchester United.
He has looked disengaged and unhappy for more than 18 months, and needs a new challenge. His career is threatening to pass him by. And things don't get much worse than being left out of a squad altogether for a Manchester derby.
But he could feel trapped. United will want a decent fee for him, while wages in excess of £300,000-a-week will put a lot of clubs off.
Ruben Amorim is showing Rashford some tough love, but serious doubts remain over whether Rashford is capable of grasping the message.
Daniel Marsh
It feels like we've been here before with Marcus Rashford. And maybe that's reason enough to instigate a parting of the ways.
Rashford has not looked like hitting the same heights he did during that fabled 30-goal campaign under Erik ten Hag, and it certainly doesn't look like he's enjoying his football right now. That must be hard in itself given his affiliation with the club, so a fresh start could (hopefully) breathe new life into his career.
For United, the opportunity to move him on tallies up from a business point of view: Ruben Amorim will want funds to reshape his squad and any sum raised from Rashford's sale will count as pure profit. It feels like a no-brainer for all parties. But things at Manchester United scarcely seem to play out as they should, so there could yet be another twist in the tale.
Ben Husband
Unfortunately for Rashford the writing appears to be on the wall. Every new manager wants to put their stamp on their club and with Amorim, Rashford appears to be how he is planning to do it.
The new United boss probably could have picked any of about 20 players, but as an England international and Premier League superstar, Rashford is arguably the biggest. It says it all that in the aftermath of that famous victory at the Etihad, there were still questions about his exclusion.
A cynical person may suggest he had preemptively looked for a talking point to cover up what could have been a very difficult day. In the end that wasn't needed, but nevertheless Rashford's days at Old Trafford look numbered.
But should that be seen as solely a negative for him? I'm not so sure. United has become a breeding ground for mediocrity in the decade-plus since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure and a move away should be the catalyst for a return to form.
I wouldn't be surprised if almost every team in the Premier League had at least a cursory thought about signing him, although United will probably want to protect themselves by selling abroad. Either way, player and team appear to be moving in different directions and an exit probably suits both parties best.
Amad was Manchester United's hero in the derby ( Image: Getty Images)
Matt Maltby
You can't really criticise Amorim, given that Amad Diallo - playing in a similar role to Rashford and Garnacho - essentially won the game for United.
And the Red Devils manager should be applauded for stamping his authority. He's right when he says: "When people in the club are losing their jobs, we have to push our standards really high."
United's standards have dropped ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left - and it's Amorim's job to raise them again. If that means dropping your biggest players, then so be it. Where does Rashford go now? Who knows.
We know the talent he has, we just haven't seen it enough. Maybe it's best for him to leave for pastures new. I can see him flourishing at a team like Tottenham - but maybe a fresh start away from England would suit him more.
That's not to say he can't return to scoring goals at United, but the win over Manchester City showed that United can still win big games without one of their prized assets.
Oli Gamp
The lack of protest from fans over Marcus Rashford's axing from the Manchester United squad vs Manchester City speaks a thousand words.
Rashford's form has been woeful to put it lightly and you wouldn't blame any United manager for leaving him out of the vital derby clash. It was particularly damning that the forward was absent from the matchday squad entirely and it almost looks inevitable he will leave at Old Trafford at some point in the near future.
Rashford looks devoid of confidence after being excluded from the last three starting XIs in the Premier League and it seems like time for both parties to go their separate ways. He's had one good season in the last four years and Amorim is unlikely to rediscover the Rashford from the 2022-23 season that scored 30 goals in all competitions. His inconsistency has already seen him miss out on England's Euro 2024 squad this summer and things aren't going to get better as things stand.
He's only 27 and still has time on his side but he desperately needs a fresh new chapter to reinvigorate his faltering career. If there's an opportunity to leave in January, he should take it with both hands - and United shouldn't stand in his way.
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