Roy Keane believes a move away from Manchester United could do Marcus Rashford “a world of good” as he fears the striker will never regain his thirst at Old Trafford.
Rashford, a 27-year-old product of United’s youth system, has been ruled out of the Manchester derby and his future appears to be up in the air.
United beat Manchester City 2-1 on Sunday and Rashford told reporter Henry Winter on Tuesday that he was “ready for the new challenge and the next step”.
“I don’t mind what he said. I think it’s right,” former Manchester United captain Keane told the Stick to Football podcast.
“Sometimes a deal works for everyone. It’s been going on for a year or two and there’s obviously some talent here, he’s been at the club since he was a kid.
“A change might be good for him, his team and his family. Just go have fun, maybe go abroad or something.”
Rashford is currently contracted at Old Trafford until 2028 and although he has been linked with several other clubs, United manager Rouben Amorim is still keen for the England striker to stay .
But Keane said: “I’ve always thought if you lose that hunger it’s hard to get it back.
“Forget about the few (pounds) he’s made over the years — listen, it’s good for him — but we know, great players, it has nothing to do with it.”
Keane added that a move away from Manchester United could reignite Rashford’s “real hunger” for on-field success.
Amorim is keen to keep Rashford but admits he would have handled the situation differently when he was a player. |Image source: Getty Images
Amorim is keen to keep Rashford but admits he would have handled the situation differently when he was a player. |Image source: Getty Images
“I think there’s a good chance he’ll get it back by changing clubs and scenery, a new country, a new league and so on, but I don’t think he’ll get it back at Manchester United.”
Speaking to reporters ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash on Thursday, Amorim urged Rashford to “talk to the manager” rather than express his dissatisfaction publicly.
Since making his first-team debut in 2016, Rashford has played 426 games for the club and scored 138 goals.
However, he has struggled with form at Manchester United over the past 18 months and has been dropped from England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Rashford has scored just 15 goals in 67 games since signing a lucrative new contract 18 months ago, with speculation over his future growing in recent days.
The striker missed Monday’s training due to illness and will miss the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham.
Amorim is keen to keep Rashford but admits he would have handled the situation differently when he was a player.
“If it were me, I’d probably talk to the manager,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “But guys, let’s focus on Tottenham. Tottenham is the most important.”
