Premier League

RUBEN AMORIM has a theory on who was behind Marcus Rashford’s bombshell transfer interview — but the Manchester United boss will “forget it… for now.”Rashford declared he is “ready for a new challenge” after being axed from Amorim’s squad for the 2-1 win over Man City.Ruben Amorim has a theory over Marcus Rashford’s Man Utd transfer exit commentsRashford declared he is seeking a ‘new challenge’ after being droppedThe forward has since failed to feature in United’s following two matches, a 4-3 Carabao Cup defeat to Spurs and Sunday’s 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League.And Amorim, who is being backed by United’s board, has given no guarantee that Rashford will be involved for the tricky Boxing Day trip to Wolves either.It’s led to speculation that United’s academy product could be sold when the January transfer window opens.Yet Amorim reckons there could be other forces at play.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSpeaking to Sky Sports, the Portuguese boss hinted that Rashford’s comments about leaving United may have actually stemmed from the player’s camp.Amorim said: “It is a hard situation. I understand that these players have a lot of people around them, making choices that are not the first idea from the player.“I am always here to help Marcus as another player. I have to do what I have to do.“They chose to do the interview as it is not just Marcus. I have understood that.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“As a coach I focus on performance and the way you train. The rest, it is better for me and the club to deal with that when the time comes.”Amorim did offer an olive branch to Rashford though, insisting he will “forget the interview now.”Man Utd hero Lee Sharpe warns Marcus Rashford potential exit could come back to haunt club if he joins Prem rivals He added: “At the moment I focus on improving Marcus and we need a talented guy like Marcus.“I forget the interview now and see what I see on the pitch.”It remains to be seen if Rashford features again for United, with the forward having scored just four times in 15 league outings this season.Speaking to journalist Henry Winter earlier this month, the England ace revealed the time felt right to pack his bags and quit Old Trafford for a fresh start elsewhere.Rashford said: “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.“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. It’s disheartening to be left out of a derby, but it’s happened, we won the game so let’s move on.READ MORE SUN STORIES“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?”Why Rashford joining Arsenal is perfect fitBy Martin LiptonMARCUS RASHFORD is at a crossroads.But now the England star has to make the biggest choice he has ever faced – does he care about cash, or about his career?Rashford’s shock admission that he is “ready for a new challenge” after some two decades under the Manchester United umbrella has altered the dynamic around his future.That Rashford might not fit the blueprint of Ruben Amorim – who has now responded to Rashford’s comments – was not exactly a surprise.The Portuguese coach prefers a 3-4-3 formation but appears to have settled on Rasmus Hojlund as his starting central striker and wants two “narrow” inside forwards, with the width coming from the wing-backs.Rashford has always wanted to play through the middle but is often at his best exploiting spaces out wide – and that skillset does not necessarily suit the way Amorim wants to play.Even so, going public with his evident dissatisfaction at being bombed entirely from the squad for the Manchester derby was a major move, even if he vowed there would be “no hard feelings” if he does leave his boyhood club.In truth, Rashford has been leaving United almost from the moment he signed that new £325,000 per week contract in 2023.Something was broken in his connection to the club. His form dropped, his threat dissipated, his issues with the hierarchy deepened.When Erik ten Hag dropped him for hosting a birthday party after a derby defeat, and he later pulled a sickie to miss the FA Cup game with Newport, it felt even then that the writing was on the wall.The facts suggest the love affair has ended. After scoring 30 in all competitions to earn that new deal, he has scored just 15 in the 18 months since it was signed.Amorim’s arrival seems merely to have accelerated what was increasingly inevitable.Now, though, it is up to Rashford to determine what his future will bring.If it is only about the money, then his options might be somewhat limited.It is hard to see a Prem rival coughing up the same £16.9m annual salary – although Rashford’s comments have probably knocked £20m-plus off any transfer fee, even next month.But Real Madrid have their fill of big-money strikers and Barcelona’s budget remains restricted by La Liga financial controls.In Europe, then, that probably leaves PSG – but a move to a one-club league.Or, in the wider world, he could follow the likes of Ivan Toney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Firmino and Co and head to the Saudi desert.Lucrative, yep. Certainly a different environment – and that may be exactly what Rashford both wants and needs. But the football? Not in a million years.What Rashford needs, above all, is to be able to play for trophies and showcase his talents.There is no better stage than the Premier League – which has far more global eyeballs on it than any other domestic competition.And in that Premier League there is one club crying out for a goalscoring No 9, especially if he can also play down the left channel to balance out the side and widen its threat.Rashford has always been more Longsight than London.Yet Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta, might be the perfect fit.The Gunners’ lack of a proper scorer is one of the major factors many fans feel has hurt their title challenge this year.Gabriel Jesus has never been a natural finisher, while Kai Havertz is still a converted midfielder.And while the link-up between Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka makes their right flank deadly, faith in Gabriel Martinelli on the left is waning.There have not been too many who succeeded at Arsenal after leaving United – although Danny Welbeck was not a flop.Rashford has all the attributes to change that history, if he can reproduce what everybody knows is inside him.And by breaking free, giving himself the chance to start all over, Rashford can make a point to Amorim that will resonate for a very long time. 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MANCHESTER UNITED hero Lee Sharpe has warned his former club a potential exit by Marcus Rashford could come back to haunt them.Rashford, 27, made headlines last week when he strongly suggested he wants to leave United by stating he is “ready for a new challenge”.Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford strongly suggested he wants to leaveCredit: RexLee Sharpe claims a Rashford exit could come back and haunt Man UtdCredit: GettyThis comes amid two poor seasons with Man Utd in which the star forward has registered a mere 15 goals across both campaigns, which saw him getting cut from the team’s last three matches.That is a far cry from the England international’s staggering 30 goals and nine assists in 56 appearances in the 2022-23 season.Sharpe, 53, would hate to see Rashford leave after nearly two decades with the club but insists he needs to improve after a series of “moody” displays.The ex-United ace believes efforts should be made by both the club and manager Ruben Amorim to keep the winger and try to introduce him to the new 3-4-3 formation.Read Morwe on Man UtdThat is because the ex-England international claims Rashford could still go somewhere else – potentially a Premier League rival – and thrive there like he used to at Old Trafford.And that’s something that could have disastrous results for the Red Devils down the line.Sharpe told SunSport on behalf of William Hill: “I think after we saw Marcus Rashford a few seasons ago, I think the thing with it is, he is not playing great. “I don’t want him to leave [but he’s] not playing great, not on a high with the team struggling, with the new manager coming in with what could potentially be a whole new frontier for Manchester United. You know, this whole new system. Most read in Football”Maybe Marcus Rashford could fit into the system really well, and he could thrive in it, but manager’s only been there a few weeks. So it’s a bit difficult to say. “I would love Marcus Rashford to get back to what he was a couple of years ago, scoring 30-40 goals a season, absolutely destroying defenders and putting a shift in. Man Utd player ratings: Tyrell Malacia hooked after first-half disasterclass as Bruno Fernandes offers glimmer of hope”But at the moment he seems to be, I have to say, a little bit moody when he’s playing. “He’s not really working hard for the team, and he’s not really performing well. “So I would not like to let him leave now and then go somewhere else and thrive and come back and haunt the team.”Man Utd ratings vs Bournemouth as Malacia is hooked after horror first halfRUBEN AMORIM suffered his worst defeat of his short reign as Man Utd boss with a shocking 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.And his flops were easily second best all over the park to Andoni Iraola’s Cherries. SunSport’s Ian Whittell has provided his ratings of the Man United squad…Andre Onana – 5Shaky on ball and his nervousness in holding it too long was transmitted to United supporters.Bad conditions for a keeper but there were also some uncertain moments when he needed two attempts to grasp on to long shots.Noussair Mazraoui – 4Complained bitterly about the penalty he gave away but it was hard to make a case in his defence.Caught out, then panicked and tripped Justin Kluivert from behind to cap what was already an uninspiring display.Harry Maguire – 4All too often was second to the ball or simply failed to get hold of his man, with Evanilson too elusive for the United defender to shackle.Ruben Amorim believes Maguire is perfect for his three-at-the-back formation but the jury is still out on that one.Lisandro Martinez – 5Stood watching as Semenyo swept in Bournemouth’s third goal, the latest in a long line of defensive embarrassments from United.Seems to be struggling, like most of his defensive team mates, with the new system and incapable of doing even the basics.Diogo Dalot – 6Made a couple of good blocks and tried to become involved in attacking moments from wing-back, without having a huge impact.On a day when United’s defence was again found wanting, however, he was not the worst culprit.Manuel UgarteBooked for a cynical foul on Kluivert and too often struggled to cope with Bournemouth runners.Too much of the game passed him by and did not last even the hour as United chased the game.Kobbie Mainoo 6Like most of his team, guilty of some unforced errors but there was no faulting his work rate or drive.Created a great chance when he hounded Dean Huijsen off the ball and set up Bruno Fernandes but gave up the ball for Bournemouth’s third.Tyrell Malacia 3Terrible touch early on drew groans from the home fans, the first of a number of sloppy moments from the fit-again full-back.Predictable that he should give away the free-kick from which the visitors opened the scoring and hooked at half-time.Amad Diallo 7The big winner from the Rashford controversy and could have lit up Old Trafford early on but placed a good chance straight at the keeper.Not a performance on a par with his derby exploits but still looked United’s best hope of carving out a goal.Bruno Fernandes 8Playing higher, and wider, up the field these days and maybe there is a debate over whether that is the best use of his undoubted talents.But in the last five minutes of the first half alone, he had three good chances which might have brought an equaliser.Joshua Zirkzee 5Given the nod ahead of Rasmus Hojlund, a reward for some decent recent performances under his new manager but this was not one of them.Was the closest Red to Dean Huijsen as he headed Bournemouth in front though United’s defending was such a mess, it was not clear whether he was Zirkzee’s responsibility.SubstitutesLeny Yoro (for Malacia, 46) 4Came on as part of a much-needed half-time defensive reshuffle by Amorim but failed to add stability.Alejandro Garnacho (for Ugarte, 54) 5Had a chance when clean through just after Bournemouth’s third but hit it straight at Kepa.Rasmus Hojlund (for Zirkzee, 54) 6Looked like he might have a goal in him and at least forced Kepa into one good stop.Substitutes (not used): Altay Bayindir, Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, Antony. 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