Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has issued a stark warning about Marcus Rashford's future at the club, stating there is "no way back" for the England forward following recent criticism from manager Ruben Amorim.
Amorim delivered a scathing assessment of Rashford's professionalism, suggesting he would prefer his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital in his squad over "a player who doesn't give the maximum every day." The 27-year-old striker has not featured for United since December 12.
Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles with United, expressed his concerns on his Rio Presents YouTube channel. "If I was the player the manager said that about, my heart, my pride, my ego - it's embarrassment," he said. "For someone to question your application, to question you giving 100 per cent for the team, saying you're lacking effort and taking shortcuts, that's a damning comment."
The situation has grown more complex since Rashford scored in Amorim's first game as manager, a 1-1 draw at Ipswich on November 24, and followed up with two goals in a 4-0 victory over Everton. However, he was subsequently dropped from the squad for United's 2-1 win against Manchester City on December 15, after which he told journalist Henry Winter he was "ready for a new challenge."
Premier League title winner Chris Sutton added his voice to the criticism, stating on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club that Rashford is "too big for his boots." Sutton emphasized that Amorim's demands were "quite basic" and that Rashford's current behavior was "totally unacceptable."
The forward, who has been with United since age seven and made over 400 appearances for the club, has seen his form dip dramatically since his impressive 30-goal campaign in 2022-23. Former United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen suggests a transfer might be the best solution for all parties, saying, "If I was Rashford, I would make every means work to see if I could get that transfer over the line."
Ferdinand challenged Rashford to respond to the criticism if it was unfounded: "For me, if it isn't true, I'm coming out all guns blazing. I'm holding a press conference and saying 'I'm not having anyone say that about me.'" He added that Rashford needs to realize "it's nobody else's fault, the only person that can change is me."
With 60 England caps to his name and experience in major tournaments, including the Euro 2020 final against Italy, Rashford's talent is undeniable. However, as Sutton warns, he risks "rotting" at the club unless he "knuckles down" and proves his worth once again.
