Marcus Rashford playing for Manchester United in December 2024
Marcus Rashford agrees with Manchester United legend Roy Keane that his future lies abroad.
Rashford, 27, revealed in a bombshell interview last week that he's ready for a new challenge away from United after two decades with the club. His shocking comments came after he was excluded from the Red Devils' squad for their 2-1 derby win over Manchester City due to his poor attitude in training.
The wantaway forward was then left out of the defeats to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League last week, though Amorim insists he wants to keep hold of Rashford for the time being. And having faced a difficult 18 months both professionally and personally, former club captain Keane claimed Rashford can rediscover his form by joining a new club away from the pressures and focus within English football.
On The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast, presented by Sky Bet, pundit Keane said: "I don't actually mind what he said, although it's a bit long, but it's spot on.
"Sometimes a deal just works for everybody. It's been going on for a year or two now, there's obviously a bit of talent there and he's been at the club since he was a kid. A change would probably do him a world of good, for him and his team and family to go abroad."
Rashford has massively underachieved since signing a £325,000-per-week contract last year that made him the club's highest-paid player. With Amorim refusing to include him lately and the United academy graduate’s own preferences being voiced, a departure appears to be a natural conclusion to his time at Old Trafford.
The forward is also believed to want a move to Europe rather than staying in England or joining a team in Saudi or the United States. That is because he still holds ambitions of making Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, having been left out of the Three Lions set-up recently by Gareth Southgate and Lee Carsley.
Rashford, who was previously linked to PSG after Kylian Mbappe’s decision to leave the French champions, is said to be especially keen on Spain’s La Liga as his next destination. However, Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are unlikely to launch a bid for the out-of-form star, and no club is known to have made a formal approach for his services yet.
Atletico Madrid is a potential option, with manager Diego Simeone having signed Englishman Conor Gallagher in the summer after Chelsea told the midfielder he was no longer needed. While in the Premier League, where United would no doubt be more reluctant to let Rashford ply his trade once he goes, there have been reports of some interest from Arsenal.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is in need of attacking options this January transfer window given recent injuries to Rashford’s England team-mates Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling. However, United would demand a huge fee before letting Rashford join a rival club.
Any permanent deal for Rashford – even next summer – would be difficult given his hefty contract, as well as the £40million that the 13-time Premier League champions are demanding. Therefore, there may not be many suitors for such a costly player who has seven goals to his name this season.
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