Ruben Amorim, the head coach at Manchester United, has not ruled out the possibility of retaining Marcus Rashford, despite the forward expressing his desire for a new challenge away from Old Trafford.
In a recent conversation, Rashford, 27, conveyed to media that he is "ready for a new challenge," which has fueled speculation regarding his future at the club amid reports of potential changes in ownership by INEOS.
Rashford’s absence from the squad for the recent Manchester derby, which United won 2-1, has raised questions about his professionalism during training. Nonetheless, ahead of the upcoming Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham, Amorim emphasized Rashford’s potential value to the team, calling him a "big talent."
When addressing Rashford’s comments, Amorim acknowledged the challenge ahead for the team: "I think he’s right. We have here a new challenge and it’s a tough one, it’s the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation." He revealed that he had not yet spoken to Rashford due to giving the team a day off after the derby.
Amorim affirmed his focus on winning and enhancing the team’s performance, stating, "We are better with Marcus Rashford, and that’s simple." He aims to find ways to motivate Rashford to regain his top form, recognizing the importance of his contributions to the club, which has seen the academy graduate score 138 goals in 426 appearances.
Despite recent struggles and a significant decline in form over the last year and a half, Amorim remains committed to Rashford’s development and expresses optimism about his future contributions. He stated, "This kind of club needs big talent and he is a big talent, so we just need him to perform at the highest level."
As Manchester United prepares for a busy holiday schedule, including the pivotal match against Tottenham, Amorim reassures fans that Rashford’s situation won’t disrupt the squad dynamic. "Players are more simple than that," he said, emphasizing their focus on performance.
With the January transfer window approaching, Amorim remains focused on getting the best from his players, saying, "This is in the future, my focus is that all the players are at their best."
Catch the Carabao Cup quarter-finals as Tottenham face Manchester United on Thursday at 8pm.
