Marcus Rashford has been frozen out at Manchester United by manager Ruben Amorim and is currently in limbo as he looks to secure a move away from the club in the summer
Marcus Rashford pictured at Manchester United before his loan move to Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford looks set for a move away from Manchester United and has been told he only has himself to blame
(Image: PA)
Ruben Amorim has received fresh support for his decision to sideline Marcus Rashford at Manchester United.
The 27-year-old forward is on the hunt for a new club after losing his place in the team shortly following Amorim's appointment as head coach in November. Rashford was loaned out to Aston Villa in January, where the club had the option to make the move permanent for £40million.
Despite this, it seems unlikely that Villa will take up the offer, leaving Rashford's future uncertain with three years remaining on his contract at United. After Rashford made a public appeal to Barcelona last week, it's still uncertain whether he will secure a transfer.
Former Villa and Liverpool striker Dean Saunders has suggested that Rashford should look at himself rather than blame Amorim for his current situation. During an appearance on talkSPORT, Saunders criticised Rashford's willingness to adapt and implied that he would have had issues managing him due to his attitude.
"When you get to a top team, you play where the manager asks you to play, and you've got to be selfless," Saunders said. "They've had so many players at Man United who just play when they feel like playing.
"I mean, Rashford, for example, how can you not play up the middle? How can you say, 'I don't want to play up front'? I'd fall out with him if I was managing him, because I'd rather have a seven-out-of-ten player everywhere, giving me what they've got, than just showing flashes."
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has been backed for his decision to freeze Rashford out
Signing for Barcelona is said to be Rashford's dream, but the likelihood of such a transfer is unclear. The La Liga giants are close to finalising deals for Athletic Club's Nico Williams and Copenhagen's Roony Bardghji, which would lessen the chances of Rashford joining the Catalan club.
But according to the latest reports from the Mail, Williams' arrival will not deter them from making a move for him. Rashford's versatility is said to be the main appeal to the Catalan club. Newcastle have also shown an interest in taking him to St. James' Park on a loan spell next season.
Saunders has claimed Rashford's difficulty in securing a new team is also indicative of a greater issue affecting England's elite talents, linked to their substantial salaries.
"There's a bit of a thing going on where England's young, hopeful players are on so much money that you can't get a club somewhere else," he said. "You've got Grealish, Foden, Sancho, Rashford and Sterling.
"They're all on two or three hundred grand a week. So clubs are looking at it going, 'do I take a chance?' Aston Villa must have thought, 'do we take a chance?' But he's earning too much money."
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