Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford feels ready for a different opportunity, he mentioned to sports journalist Henry Winter on Tuesday, as he continues to be associated with a transfer away from the Premier League giants.
On Sunday, United defeated Manchester City 2-1, but Rashford, alongside Alejandro Garnacho, was excluded from the squad for the Etihad trip, with new head coach Ruben Amorim explaining his choice was about maintaining his squad’s high expectations.
This triggered media speculation that United were aiming to offload the England striker, who has been part of United since the age of seven, and the 27-year-old addressed the issue while visiting his former school to distribute Christmas gifts.
“From my perspective, I believe I’m prepared for a new challenge and the next phase,” Rashford told Winter when questioned about his future with United.
“When I go, it’s going to be ‘no bad blood’. You won’t hear any critical words from me about Manchester United. That’s just who I am.
“If I’m aware that a situation is already negative, I won’t make it worse. I’ve witnessed how others have exited in the past, and I refuse to be that individual.
“When I go, I’ll release a statement, and it will come directly from me.”
Rashford has netted three goals since Amorim assumed control last month, but he was substituted in the 56th minute of last week’s 2-1 Europa League triumph over Viktoria Plzen, with fans jeering the forward as he exited the field.
The footballer has yet to regain the form that saw him tally 30 goals across all competitions during the 2022-23 campaign, but he still insists the best is yet to arrive.
“I’m halfway through my playing career. I don’t anticipate my prime to be right now,” Rashford said.
“I’ve spent nine years so far competing in the Premier League, and that’s taught me plenty, it’s allowed me to evolve as both a player and a human.
“So I don’t hold any regrets from the past nine years. I won’t carry regrets going forward because I live day by day, and sometimes things go wrong, other times things go right.”
