Marcus Rashford timing speaks volumes as Man United U-turn clear after Barcelona transfer

Marcus Rashford timing speaks volumes as Man United U-turn clear after Barcelona transfer

Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford conducted his first sit-down interview since completing a season-long loan deal to Barcelona this week

Marcus Rashford pictured during his loan spell at Barcelona (Image: Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

"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," those were the words of Marcus Rashford to journalist Henry Winter back in December after he first admitted his desire to leave the club.

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It was a noble stance to take considering he had just been left out, unceremoniously, from the squad that defeated Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. In the weeks that followed, Rashford would only make the bench at United once more for the loss to Newcastle before being shipped out on loan to Aston Villa.

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Before that transfer, the situation became even frostier between Rashford and Ruben Amorim. In a press conference after beating Fulham, the Portuguese head coach insisted that he would rather have goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital (now 64), on the bench before a player that did not have the right attitude.

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It was later clarified that Amorim was making a general point and not one about a specific player, however the remark was made after a question on Rashford. It was clear then that the dynamic between the winger and United had shifted.

In the West Midlands, Rashford kept a low profile. He was protected from most media obligations and did not pass comment on United. However, that all changed this week when he conducted an interview with The Rest is Football following his loan switch to Barcelona.

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He described the club as being 'reactionary' and the club have been in 'no man's land' due to the amount of transition and change since Sir Alex Ferguson left. He could have been more damning on the state that United have been in, but it is nevertheless clear the forward has changed his mind on keeping his true feelings suppressed.

"Show me a successful team that just adapts," Rashford said. "When Fergie was in charge, not only the principles for the first team – the whole academy set up so you could pick players from 15 years and over – that’s a full generation. And they’d all understand the principles of playing the Man United way, right?

"You see it with any team that’s been successful over a period of time – they have principles that any coach that comes in, any player that comes in, has to align to these principles or be able to add to these principles.

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"Whereas at times I feel like United have just been… we’re hungry to win, so we’ll always try to adapt and to sign players that fit this system. But it’s reactionary.

"If your direction’s always changing, you can’t expect to be able to win the league. Yeah, you might win some cup tournaments, but it’s because you do have a good coach and you do have good players and you have match winners in your team – you’re not there by accident.

"This is what some people forget. So yeah, we’ve been way below where we deem United to be. But then if you take a step back, which I’ve been able to do, especially over the last six months – what do you expect?

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"People say we’ve been in a transition for years. To be in a transition, you have to start the transition. So it’s like the actual transition’s not started yet."

The timing of this change speaks volumes. Perhaps now he is certain to not have a future at United, Rashford feels more empowered to speak his mind.

He could also feel that Amorim's behaviour towards him following the Winter interview has shifted the goalposts. But, there is more than one side to every argument.

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Rashford is not completely faultless for the demise of his United career or, in fact, the club as a whole. He is also not solely responsible for either scenario either.

However, what is clear is that Rashford has taken a shift away from keeping quiet and is voicing his opinion on United - and that suggests the relationship with the club has now undergone a complete, and permanent, U-turn.

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