Marcus Rashford's tenure at Manchester United appears to be drawing to a close after manager Ruben Amorim said his attitude in training was poor.
In a striking statement after a 1-0 victory against Fulham, Amorim said, “If things do not change, I will not change,” indicating his unwillingness to include Rashford in the team unless there’s a significant shift in his commitment.
He added, “I will put (Jorge) Vital (goalkeeping coach) on the pitch before I put a player that does not give the maximum.” This comment underlines the rift between Rashford and the club’s management.
Rashford, who has been absent from the last 11 Manchester United matches across various competitions, last played in the Europa League against Viktoria Plzen on December 12.
His desire to leave United was confirmed in an interview with journalist Henry Winter where he expressed his wish to “try something new.” However, his departure has been anything but smooth, with financial and contractual issues complicating potential transfers.
Despite talks with several clubs like AC Milan, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, and Barcelona, Rashford’s high wage of 325,000 pounds per week and United’s valuation of him at around 50 million pounds have made negotiations challenging.
Barcelona, although Rashford’s dream destination, faces significant financial constraints, which might necessitate a high-profile swap deal involving Ansu Fati.
In a surprising turn, recent updates suggest Rashford might be leaning towards joining West Ham United. This comes after reports that he is growing impatient with Barcelona’s financial deliberations.
The Hammers have shown concrete interest in securing Rashford on loan, potentially covering 50% of his salary, which amounts to 162,500 pounds weekly, although this would require Manchester United to reconsider their stance on not allowing Rashford to join another Premier League club.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have managed some transfer activity by sending young player Ethan Wheatley on loan to a League Two club, but they look set to miss out on former academy star Angel Gomes, who is nearing a move back to England with a Premier League rival.
Rashford’s history with Manchester United has not been without controversy, including instances where he was disciplined for tardiness, missing training due to personal celebrations, and a notable nightclub incident that led to him being fined two weeks’ wages.
With the transfer window nearing its end, all eyes are on Rashford’s next move, which could see him reignite his career away from Old Trafford.
