Marcus Rashford has admitted that he's ready a 'new challenge' amid reports that Manchester United have put him up for sale.
Rashford, 27, was left out of United's squad to face bitter rivals City on Sunday, with new manager Ruben Amorim making the decision based off the forward's recent performances. It's been reported that United are ready to cash in on Rashford, who joined the club aged seven, ahead of the January transfer window.
"For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps," Henry Winter quotes Rashford as saying during a visit to his old primary school, Button Lane, to hand out Christmas presented. "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'e 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."
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Asked if he'd 'always be a red', he replied: "Yes! 100 per cent. 100 per cent."
On Amorim's decision to leave him out, the Red Devils academy graduate said: "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."
Rashford hit the 30-goal mark for United in the 2022-23 season but has regressed over the past 18 months, despite signing a lucrative long-term contract. Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have previously been linked with signing the England international, who last represented his country at the 2022 World Cup.
But he's eyeing playing for the Three Lions at the 2026 edition in Canada, Mexico and the United States. "I'm halfway through my career. I don't expect my peak to be now," Rashford added.
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Marcus Rashford is open to leaving Manchester United ( Image: Stephen White - CameraSport via Getty Images)
"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.
"[The World Cup] still excites me. It's playing for your country in the biggest competition in the world. I've had the chance to do it before (Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022) and it's an unbelievable experience. If I got the opportunity again, I'll try and grab it with both hands."
Rashford will be hoping to face Tottenham away from home on Thursday in United's Carabao Cup quarter-final clash.
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