Online Reporter
MARCUS RASHFORD has admitted he is “ready for a new challenge” after being left out of the Manchester derby.
The Manchester United forward has struggled for form over the last 12 months.
It was thought that he would be given a fresh start under new manager Ruben Amorim after he replaced Erik ten Hag.
Rashford, 27, however, has not managed to convince the Portuguese coach that he should be a key player. The forward, along with Alejandro Garnacho, was left out of the squad for Manchester United’s victory over Manchester City.
The omission has come amid speculation that he could be sold by the Red Devils. And now, Rashford has admitted that he is ready for a “new challenge”.
He told journalist Henry Winter: “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.”
Rashford continued to insist that when he does leave Man United, he would not have any “hard feelings”.
He added: “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.”
He had previously been linked with the Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain when his deal was due to end in 2023.
However, he stayed at Old Trafford after extending his contract last year. Pushed for his reaction to being axed from the derby squad, Rashford said: “It’s disheartening to be left out of a derby, but it’s happened, we won the game so let’s move on.
“It’s disappointing but I’m also someone as I’ve got older I can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it. Or do my best the next time I’m available.”
United boss Amorim insisted he was not “sending a message” with his selection.
But Amorim did say: “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. —Sun.
