Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has made headlines with his controversial remarks about Marcus Rashford, suggesting he would prefer to include his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach on the bench rather than the England forward due to concerns about effort and dedication.
Rashford has been notably absent from United's matchday squad for six weeks, including Sunday's 1-0 Premier League victory at Fulham. Amorim's criticism focused on what he perceives as a lack of commitment from the 27-year-old striker.
"It's always the same reason - the training, the way I see a footballer should do in life. It's every day, every detail," Amorim explained when questioned about Rashford's absence. "If things don't change, I will not change. It's the same situation for every player, if you do the maximum and right things we can use every player."
In a particularly pointed comment, Amorim stated he would rather select goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital than a player who doesn't demonstrate maximum effort daily, despite acknowledging the team's need for pace on the bench.
The situation has drawn attention from football experts, with former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given telling BBC Match of the Day: "The fans aren't stupid. They see it's not good enough from the players and Ruben Amorim is just being honest. If you don't train hard and dedicate your life, you won't be in the team."
While sources close to Rashford maintain he has no issues with Amorim and is willing to play for the club again, potential moves away from Old Trafford appear limited. A transfer to AC Milan seems unlikely following Kyle Walker's arrival, while a possible loan to Barcelona depends on player departures at the Catalan club.
Amorim, who celebrates his 40th birthday on Monday, has faced challenges since taking over as United manager in November. Sunday's victory at Fulham, secured by Lisandro Martinez's deflected strike, marked only their fourth Premier League win under his leadership. The Portuguese manager joked about his age, saying, "It's not 40... I'm 50. After two months at Manchester United, it's 50."
As the transfer window nears its February 3rd closure, Manchester United has yet to make any signings. The club has focused on outgoings, with Antony departing for Real Betis on loan. Additionally, speculation surrounds Alejandro Garnacho's future, though the 20-year-old Argentine forward started at Fulham and contributed to the winning goal.
The club has been linked with potential moves for Lecce full-back Patrick Dorg and Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku. However, Amorim emphasized caution in the transfer market, stating, "We did make mistakes in the past and we cannot do it now."
Despite the unconvincing performance at Fulham, the result means United have won three of their last four games. Amorim remains focused on implementing his vision, saying, "The important thing is I have a clear idea of what I want to do. Sometimes I'm frustrated. We want to play a different style and we are going to play different style in the future."
