Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick is not concerned with Marcus Rashford’s future at the club and claimed that, should he want to leave in the summer, he is free to do so.
The striker is reportedly weighing up an exit from Old Trafford, where he has played his entire professional career
According to sources, Rashford will consider his future at Old Trafford if he continues to be left out of the starting XI, with the England international at a crossroads in his career.
And Rangnick’s comments will only serve to add fuel to the fire regarding a potential exit, with the German interim manager insisting he doesn’t think Rashford has not had enough game time.
“I spoke with him yesterday and the day before yesterday so I don’t know anything about that,” Rangnick told reporters on Friday in response to the latest exit rumours.
“In my 25 years in professional football, I have decided not to take too much notice of things happening in the media. He didn’t say anything to me, he said to me that he is still happy and that he wants to perform on a high level for the club.
“There was no mention of him not being happy here. For me this is not a worry at all.
“My worry and concern or what I’m trying to achieve with him is what we did with for example Anthony [Elanga], with Jadon [Sancho], with one or two other young players that we have, to improve his performance and make sure that he gets the best version of himself.
“I don’t think that he’s not had enough game time. He’s had 13-14 games since I’ve been here now, he played more games from the start than he didn’t play from the start. I don’t think this is an issue and he never said anything about that since we spoke yesterday.
“But again, the window is closed right now. Even if, suppose, he and his agents or his family at one stage of the summer think about maybe going to another club, well then he can do that but in the summer.
“Now the window is closed. It’s got nothing to do with tomorrow’s game or the game on Tuesday.”
Rashford has not seen regular game time during the 2021-22 campaign, with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo having added extra competition to United’s already packed attack.
Indeed, Rangnick opted to start with Bruno Fernandes in a false 9 position in the Manchester derby, with the Red Devils going on to suffer a comprehensive 4-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
That will have come as a further blow to Rashford, who was only introduced as a second-half substitute despite Ronaldo having been ruled out of the match and Edinson Cavani also being absent from the squad.
The 24-year-old has started just two of the club’s last 11 Premier League outings, but Rangnick believes he has been given ample opportunity to prove his worth.