‘Bit-part’ Man Utd star upset with lack of starts under Mourinho

Marcus Rashford is so frustrated with his bit-part role at Manchester United that the player is considering his options at the club, according to a report.

The homegrown striker talent has made 43 appearances this season, though only half of these have come from the start and a report claims the 20-year-old is becoming increasingly irked by in his inability to command a regular first-team place.

With Romelu Lukaku clearly Jose Mourinho’s preferred central striking option, Rashford’s chances have often come from wide attacking areas, but even those have been restricted now after the January arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.

Although Rashford is yet to speak with Mourinho about his frustrations, a source told the Daily Mirror that he is desperate to see the situation improve and failure to do so could result in him seeking a move away from Old Trafford, with Barcelona and Real Madrid both among the England forward’s admirers.

The source stressed that Rashford is desperate for things to work out at Old Trafford, but matters could come to a head if he continues to be a bit-part player.

“Marcus was really unhappy with being left out for the derby,” the ‘source’ told the  Daily Mirror.

“If Mourinho is still there next season, Marcus might not be, as he wants to start every game.”

Rashford is also said to be unhappy at playing on the right side, with Sanchez having made the left side his own since his arrival and Lukaku immovable as Mourinho’s first-choice central striker.

Mourinho defended his handling of Rashford last month, after former Crystal Palace boss Frank De Boer criticised him for not playing the youngster enough.

“I try to give the best to him [Rashford],” he said.

“If you go to his numbers and see how many matches he played last season and this with me, I would say he’s in the top five players with matches in the two seasons.”

England manager Gareth Southgate is also known to have privately expressed concern at Rashford’s lack of club starts this season, with the start of the World Cup finals now just two months away.

 

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