Marcus Rashford’s time at Old Trafford looks to be all but over, with the Manchester United star having recently admitted he would like to seek out a “new challenge”
Marcus Rashford‘s Manchester United career looks to be all but over.
After having been dropped by new United boss Ruben Amorim altogether from their match day Manchester derby squad, Rashford confirmed he wants a new challenge, signalling an end to his time at Old Trafford. United are also keen on moving the 27-year-old on too.
However, following the 2022/23 season, where he scored 30 goals in 56 appearances, United awarded Rashford a bumper new deal, with the England international reportedly earning £350,000-a-week on his contract that runs until 2028. Given the drop off in his performances over the course of the last two seasons since signing the deal, it is a near certainty no-one would take Rashford off United’s hands at a price they would want for the forward.
But one place who could both afford to buy Rashford, and pay his wages in full, is the Saudi Pro League. The summer of 2023 saw the Saudi Pro League made a number of big money moves to both enhance the reputation of the league and improve its quality.
While it remains to be seen whether this was a financially prudent move, there is no doubt the Saudi Pro League sides will be looking to spend big in the upcoming transfer windows, especially after Saudi Arabia was awarded the 2034 World Cup, with Rashford the sort of name the league would be desperate to attract.
So with that in mind, we asked AI chatbot ChatGPT just how Rashford would fare should he end up moving to Saudi Arabia now that his United career looks to be over. The Supercomputer reckons that when it comes to adapting to the Saudi Pro League’s style of play, ChatGPT reckons Rashford would take like a duck to water, with his “pace, technical ability and finishing skills” likely to make him one of the division’s standout players.
The intensity of the Premier League by far outmatches that of the Saudi Pro League, which means the Three Lions ace would likely thrive. Additionally, as a marquee player, the chatbot also believes Rashford would be expected to take on more of a leadership role both on and off the pitch.
Rashford is much younger than the likes of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, who sit second and third respectively behind Aleksandar Mitrovic when it comes to the Saudi Pro League’s top scorers this season, something which could also work in Rashford’s favour.
However, one red flag ChatGPT has pointed out is what a move to Saudi Arabia would say for Rashford’s career ambitions at the highest level of football. While it would undoubtedly see him match, or even surpass the money he is earning on his current United deal, the quality of the Saudi Pro League, both as a sporting competition, and as a product, is much worse than the Premier League.
At 27, Rashford is supposed to be in the prime of his career, but looks miles away from the player who scored 30 goals way back during the 2022/23 season.