MARCUS RASHFORD has put pen to paper on a new contract worth a staggering £97.5M.
The Manchester United striker will earn £375,000 a week for the next five years as the club’s highest-paid player
But relieved boss Erik ten Hag will believe he is worth every penny after months of wrangling with his previous contract due to run out in just under eleven months.
Upon signing his new deal, Rashford said: “I joined Manchester United as a seven-year-old boy with a dream. That same passion, pride, and determination to succeed still drives me every time I have the honour of wearing the shirt.
“I’ve already had some amazing experiences at this incredible club, but there is still a lot more to achieve and I remain relentlessly determined to win more trophies in the years ahead.
“As a United fan all my life, I know the responsibility that comes with representing this badge and feel the highs and lows as much as anyone.
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“I can assure you that I will give everything to help the team reach the level we are capable of, and I can feel the same determination around the dressing room.
“I couldn’t be more excited for the future under this manager.”
The 25-year-old flirted with Paris Saint-Germain during long-running negotiations.
And a clutch of mega-wealthy Saudi clubs were waiting to pounce for the front man who blasted back to form last season after suffering two years of injuries with 30 goals in 56 games.
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While he always wanted to re-commit himself to the club he joined 18 years ago the England star was also determined to vastly increase his £200,000-per-week wage and get something approaching the going rate paid to the game’s biggest names.
Now he is the fourth-highest earner in England behind top-paid Manchester City striker Erling Haaland who can earn up to £865,000 a week with bonuses.
Haaland’s club mate Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah at Liverpool rack up £400,000 a week with add-ons although like the Norwegian, Belgian and Egyptian their basic salary is the same as Rashford’s.
Confirmation of his signature on the deal that keeps him at Old Trafford until 2028 came as a double boost to Ten Hag.
Not long before United made the announcement that Rashford had formally signed on again there was news that Andre Onana was flying into Manchester to complete his move from Inter Milan.
The replacement for ex-No1 David de Gea will also sign a five-year contract after a medical tomorrow after the clubs agreed a fee that could total £47.2M with £43.8M up front.
Ten Hag believes that local lad Rashford’s best is yet to come.
Speaking ahead of his side’s final match of the season in May, he said: “Yes, I think there is more to come from Marcus.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement in his game and I’m convinced he can score even more.
“When you take, for instance, the last 10 games he didn’t score many goals.
“I think only two or three, so yes he can improve.
“I am happy about what he has done. He has brought himself back.
“We supported him where we could, with the way we play but also in his mental mindset.
“We are happy with him, but we must push him more.
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“I think Marcus is capable of scoring 40 goals in a season. For him, that’s the next step.”
Rashford and his United team-mates will kick off their Premier League campaign on August 14 with a home match against Wolves.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
