Last December, Marcus Rashford shared in an interview that he was ready to leave Man United. Many speculations began to appear when this striker did not appear in the Red Devils' matches since mid-December.
The prospect of a separation is almost certain as he no longer has the trust of coach Ruben Amorim.
This will probably be a regrettable ending for many people, when looking back at Rashford's 20-year journey with the Old Trafford team.
Man United academy prodigy
In 2004, at the age of 7, Rashford joined United's academy. His love for the club was nurtured from a young age as his family were also fans of the Red Devils of Manchester.
Rashford was an early standout amongst his peers. By the age of 11, he was training alongside Paul Pogba, Ravel Morisson and Jesse Lingard, honing his skills against the four-year-old.
Having excelled in the U12 squad, Rashford has made a good impression throughout his time in the Man United youth system. In 2015, he scored 6 goals in 11 UEFA Youth League appearances as a member of the U19 squad.
Rashford was appointed captain by United legend Nicky Butt and that was a huge step towards his promotion to the first team.
The Red Devils' captain at that time, Louis Van Gaal, gave Rashford the opportunity to train with his seniors from November 2015, but it was not until the squad was affected by injuries that he was registered to play. At that time, the player born in 1997 wore the number 39 shirt.
Journey in the first team
On 25 February 2016, Rashford made his debut in a Europa League match against Midtjylland after Anthony Martial was injured in the warm-up. He scored twice, contributing to a 5-1 win. At the time, most fans had no idea who he was.
But it was not until the summer of 2016 that Rashford made a big impression, with 8 goals in 18 appearances. The board rewarded him with a new contract, with better financial benefits.
The following season, 2016-2017, he became an important part of Jose Mourinho's squad. Due to the club's new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he mainly played on the wing, but still scored many important goals, including the decisive strike against Anderlecht to send Man United into the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Rashford continued to improve and be used by many coaches. In 2018, he was given the number 10 shirt, previously worn by Ibrahimovic.
In the following season (2019-2020), Rashford recorded the best performance of his career, with 22 goals in 44 matches. In the 2022-2023 season, he broke his own record with 30 goals, contributing greatly to Man United's 3rd place finish in the Premier League.
Last season, as the club struggled under Erik ten Hag, Rashford’s performances also dropped. He received criticism from fans for receiving a high salary but contributing less than expected. Until Ruben Amorim took over this season, the English striker was dropped from the plan due to a poor attitude in training.
Now, Man United are not standing in the way of Rashford's departure, as long as a club meets the financial terms. The Red Devils also want to free up the wage bill and are open to offers to loan players or buy them outright. After more than 20 years of association since childhood, Rashford probably knows that the time to say goodbye is very close.
