Rashford was left out of the squad for Sunday’s Manchester derby by United manager Ruben Amorim, although the head coach insisted there were no disciplinary issues behind his decision.
In an interview with journalist Henry Winter on X, Rashford said: “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.
“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.”
Rashford’s dedication to the United cause has been questioned by ex-players Gary Neville and Roy Keane over the last couple of years and in an interview with Sunday World, Meulensteen voiced his own concerns.
"There were loads of times I watched Rashford during Erik ten Hag's time at the club and I asked myself: 'Do you actually enjoy your football? Are you enjoying playing for Manchester United?'," said the coach who worked under Alex Ferguson during the final six years of his reign as United boss.
"There is this demeanour from Rashford that is not good. I don't work with him and I don't know if he has personal issues that trouble him away from football, but that is for the staff to work out.
Manchester United's Alex Ferguson and Rene Meulensteen in 2008.
"We all know that Marcus Rashford firing on all cylinders is a good player. He should contribute every game with assists and goals, but he goes missing too often.
"It's not just Rashford, obviously, but there are other players there as well that are hard to read.”
United boss Amorim dropped Rasford and Alejandro Garnacho from last weekend’s derby game against Manchester City, with Meulensteen suggesting the body language displayed by the duo is concerning.
"There are moments where I think that certain players are not looking fully motivated,” he added.
“You see it in terms of their defensive transition and with their pressing. You sometimes see United players who look like they are working hard, but the work they are doing is having no impact on the game.
"It's almost as if they run a lot and think the fans will like that, but every time they get there too late and the opposition gets away from them. I see that sometimes with Garnacho and Rashford. Sometimes they are not at it.
"United don't have a clear identity and that has been a problem for some time. They have some fantastic moments and score some great individual goals, but we see too many times when they don't seem to be able to get out of first gear.
"The fans are as confused as we all are looking at United. They are turning up to games and they don't know what team they are going to get."