Marcus Rashford has spent his entire career at Manchester United, but the forward could be set for a shock exit in January – with Sir Alex Ferguson’s thoughts on him revealed
Sir Alex Ferguson has allegedly expressed his desire to have had the opportunity to coach Marcus Rashford at Manchester United.
The 27-year-old, who has clocked up over 400 appearances since rising through the ranks of the club’s esteemed academy, was largely anticipated to remain a Red Devil for life.
However, with INEOS reportedly willing to entertain offers for him next month, the likelihood of Rashford playing elsewhere for the first time is becoming increasingly plausible. United are known for cultivating academy talents into first-team regulars.
During Ferguson’s 27-year reign, Class of ’92 stars like Gary Neville, David Beckham and Paul Scholes carved out legendary careers at Old Trafford. Sir Alex seemingly had similar plans for Rashford, having watched him ascend to the senior team as an extraordinarily gifted teenager.
According to The Telegraph, United’s legendary former boss told those close to him that he would have cherished the chance to mentor Rashford, underlining the importance of harnessing his abilities for the squad’s advantage.
Rashford showcased his potential in the 2022/23 season, netting 30 goals across all competitions and hinting at a transition from homegrown favourite to bona fide superstar.
However, his form has since taken a nosedive, with a disappointing return of 15 goals in 67 games since the start of last season – a letdown for a player earning a reported weekly wage of over £300,000, reports the Mirror.
The conviction of Sir Alex is telling, suggesting that a series of United managers have struggled to consistently connect with Rashford in the way that the Scotsman himself might have been able to.
Whether new boss Ruben Amorim can coax the best out of the England international in the five games leading up to the January transfer window remains uncertain.
Rashford has not been a guaranteed starter under the Portuguese manager, with Alejandro Garnacho being the preferred choice on the left and Rasmus Hojlund up front.
It is understood that United need to offload players if they are to reinvest in Amorim’s squad this winter. Selling Rashford and his hefty wages would significantly ease the wage bill and generate a substantial transfer fee – provided there is at least one interested buyer.