Marcus Rashford has promised 'not to make a bid situation worse' by leaving Manchester United under a cloud like some of his former team-mates.
Rashford, 27, dropped a bombshell on his future on Tuesday, revealing that he's 'ready for a new challenge' away from his boyhood club, who he joined aged seven. The forward has recently been linked with a move away from United, who are ready to cash in on their star academy graduate who's stagnated over the past 18 months.
Across his nine years as part of United's first-team squad, Rashford has witnessed plenty of players leave in acrimonious circumstances. But the England international, whose lacklustre form has meant that he hasn't played for his country since the 2022 World Cup, wants to walk out with his head held high.
"If I know that a situation is already bad I'm not going to make it worse," Rashford told Henry Winter during a visit to his old primary school, Button Lane, to hand out Christmas presents. "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."
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The 27-year-old, who sits 12th on the list of United's all-time top goalscorers, also said: "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."
Rashford's comments come after being left out of the Red Devils' squad for the Manchester derby on Sunday. United ended up 2-1 winners over their bitter rivals, City, with Rashford being made to train at the club's training ground on the morning of the game and watching the match at home.
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Marcus Rashford has endured a difficult 18 months
New United manager Ruben Amorim explained his decision to Sky Sports pre-match, saying: "We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with team-mates, push their team-mates up. Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple.
"I don't want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it. The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection. Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now.
"I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide. There is a communication after the last training. They are alright. They had training this morning and I was there. They trained really well."
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