Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has issued a blunt assessment on the Marcus Rashford situation.
Marcus Rashford has not played for Manchester United since early December, and has made only one matchday squad since.
Head coach Ruben Amorim is clearly not enamoured with the star, who was United’s top scorer in 2022/23, but has taken a considerable step backwards since.
Rashford is subject of ongoing transfer speculation, with Barcelona among teams interested – but it’s unclear whether a deal will be done before deadline.
- READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2025, ins, outs, loan moves, deadline date
Rio Ferdinand on Marcus Rashford
Ruben Amorim wants to see high effort from all of his players and does not feel he is getting it from Marcus Rashford.
He spoke after the game about preferring to play his goalkeeping coach to a player who is not giving maximum effort.
And based on Amorim’s previous comments about Rashford, the connection is obvious.
While Rashford did not address these comments in his post-match wishes to United, former star Rio Ferdinand said Rashford should be burning up inside.
He told his YouTube channel: “If I was that player my manager said that about. Bro’ my heart, my pride, my ego.
“Embarrassment. For someone to question your application, to question your going out there and give 100 per cent for your team, that your gonna slack off, and your taking shortcuts, that ain’t…
“Listen we all have moments where we’re lacking confidence, but effort ain’t really one of the things I would want to hear the manager say that is lacking in my make-up. That’s a damning comment.”
- READ MORE: Who is Marcus Rashford? Inside the life of Man Utd’s book-writing, government-tackling ace
Rashford not reacting like Sancho
Jadon Sancho lit a fuse under his own situation when Erik ten Hag questioned his application. And it made matters worse.
Rashford has kept a diplomatic silence – yet Ruben Amorim has always kept the door open for players who give maximum effort.
Ferdinand admitted there were two ways to respond, commenting: “If it ain’t true and he’s said that about, I’m coming out all guns blazing, I’m holding a press conference, I’m coming out and saying I’m having no one chatting like that in the media.”
But he also admitted that it could be a wake-up call for Rashford – if he does want to carry on at United, having claimed he’s ready for a new challenge.
He said: “When’s the penny going to drop? Go into training every day with a spring in your step. Your a lucky guy. Go and earn the right to play.”
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