Marcus Rashford is prepared to leave Manchester United after spending nine years in the club’s senior team.
The Manchester-born academy product was left out of the squad for Sunday’s derby win at City, leading to reports that the Red Devils were willing to sell him as soon as next month.
“For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” Rashford told Henry Winter on Tuesday when he was asked if he would stay at Manchester United or leave the club.
“When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings’. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.
“If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse. I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person. When I leave I’ll make a statement and it will be from me.”
When asked if from the heart as he will always be a Red, Rashford said: “Yes! 100%. 100%.”
Although Rashford has scored three goals under Ruben Amorim, it has been reported that he does not suit the new manager’s preferred 3-4-2-1 system.
Rashford however insists that he is adaptable, and can thrive in several positions in Amorim’s system.
“I have traits to play in all three positions. Some positions are more natural to me, some positions I have to train more and do a bit more tactical (work),” he noted.
“The left side suits me the best. The left 10 still suits me but you have to adapt your game. The biggest skill-set is adaptability. People might not see it but eventually they’ll see I’ve played in plenty of different positions under all the managers.”
Being dropped from Sunday’s squad is believed to be the final straw for Rashford, who at 27 has made 426 appearances and scored 138 goals for United.
But he insisted he had moved past it and was looking ahead to the future, which increasingly looks to be likely away from Old Trafford.
“It’s disheartening to be left out of a Derby, but it’s happened, we won the game so let’s move on,” he said.
“It’s disappointing but I’m also someone as I’ve got older I can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it. Or do my best the next time I’m available.”
When asked about rumours of a lack of professionalism on his part, Rashford replied: “I do feel misunderstood but I’m fine with it. I’m a very simple person. I love football. That’s been my life from the beginning.”
