Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has said he is “ready for a new challenge” after being asked about his future at the club.
Rashford, 27, was left out of the squad for Sunday’s derby, which United won 2-1 against Manchester City.
New head coach Ruben Amorim confirmed there were no disciplinary reasons behind his decision, but seemed to suggest he had hoped to see more of the Englishman on and off the pitch in his first few weeks in charge.
In an interview with football writer Henry Winter published on X, Rashford said: “If I know a situation is already bad, I’m not going to make it worse. I’ve seen other players leave in the past and I don’t want to be that person.
“When I come out, I will make a statement and it will be from me.
“When I leave, there will be no hard feelings.” You won’t hear any negative comments from me about Manchester United. This is who I am as a person.
“Personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and next steps.”
Since making his debut in 2016, Rashford has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club, progressing through United’s youth ranks.
The 2022–2023 campaign was his most prolific, with him scoring 30 points in all competitions.
However, he has struggled for form over the past 18 months and has faced criticism from pundits and fans for a string of plodding performances.
Asked about the decision to exclude Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the matchday squad at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Amorim said: “It must be said that it was not about disciplinary issues.
“Next week, another match, a new life and they will be fighting for places. What’s important to me is your performance in training, your performance in games, the way you dress, eat and interact with the team… colleagues and push your teammates.”
