The Manchester United chapter of Marcus Rashford’s career, which looked like it would go on forever, seems like it’s in the last stages now.
Being dropped out of every squad since the Manchester Derby and Ruben Amorim having shown zero signs that that will change, it’s a sour situation for Marcus Rashford.
The fact that he hasn’t even been chosen as an option despite the games coming thick and fast and Amorim rotating the team shows how far his stock has fallen.
The biggest indictment could come vs Newcastle, where, if he doesn’t make the squad again which is likely, that would happen despite United missing two players through suspension– Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes.
The fall of Rashford has been sudden but journalist Andy Mitten’s claims about the player put everything into perspective.
Andy Mitten on Marcus Rashford at Man Utd
Andy Mitten has been one of the most reliable voices in Manchester United because of his connections to the club and his passion for the club, which is shown in everything he does.
He is also, generally, extremely protective of the players even in criticism, with the likes of Sir Jim Ratcliffe even giving him special interviews for his magazine.
Therefore, when Mitten veers away from the usual and calls out a player directly, it is worth sitting up and taking notice, especially when it confirms a long-running suspicion.
Mitten recently went on Talksport and while giving his views on the Rashford situation, dropped a huge claim about the player’s history.
He said: “Every previous manager has had issues with Marcus Rashford. I’ve spoken to them. They’ve told me in confidence going back years and years and years.”
Mitten has said for years that the United dressing room is “complicated” but this is the first time he’s outright named a player as a reason behind that.
To see that name being of Rashford, is, unfortunately, depressingly expected because that is something fans have had an inkling about for a long time.
Rashford’s patchy professionalism history
It can be argued that the last time Rashford didn’t make the headlines for something unsavoury during a season was when he broke out under Louis van Gaal.
Since then, from hardcore disciplinarians like Jose Mourinho to a player’s manager like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, every Man Utd manager has had an episode with Rashford borne out of the player’s lack of professionalism.
Even Erik ten Hag, under whom Rashford had his best-ever season to secure a new contract, dropped him multiple times for consternations off the pitch.
Amorim, therefore, might be the first manager to take a hard stance over him but he’s far from the only one to identify Rashford as an issue.
As recent results have shown, Rashford is far from the only problem at the club but he does look like one of the big ones. In Sir Dave Brailsford’s words, his exit will be the sort of “marginal gain” to the culture at the club that is long overdue.
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