Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Marcus Rashford green light to leave Man Utd as Ralf Rangnick grants big transfer pass

Marcus Rashford, Manchester United during the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid

Marcus Rashford has been told he will be free to leave Manchester United this summer if the forward feels his career is stalling at Old Trafford.

The United forward has been a shadow of his former self this season and has failed to find his consistent best form. Indeed, the 24-year-old has just five goals and two assists to his name this term.

And to highlight his struggles, Rashford has made just 18 appearances in the Premier League this season. Just nine of those have been starts, while just two have come since the turn of the year.

To add to his misery, Rashford was expected to start Sunday’s Manchester derby in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani. However, Ralf Rangnick instead opted to play Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba as false nines – a tactic which evidentally backfired.

The fall out from that defeat, and Rangnick’s selectins – has been huge. Plenty has been written this week about Ronaldo wanting away, having got the hump at his exclusion.

In addition, Rashford too is said to be angling for showdown talks with Rangnick. Indeed reports this week claim he is ‘becoming increasingly frustrated under the German’.

Rangnick, though, has spoken out on theories that Rashford is not getting enough game time.

Rangnick addresses Marcus Rashford situation

Furthermore, in laying down the gauntlet to the star, he claims he is free to leave if he’s not happy with his lot.

“I don’t think that he’s not had enough game time,” Rangnick said, as cited by The Guardian. “Marcus Rashford has 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 [Thursday]. But the [transfer] window is closed now. Even 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.

Rashford and Lingard linked with Newcastle moves this summer

Rashford and Lingard linked with Newcastle moves this summer

Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard linked with Newcastle United this summer as Manchester United game time lacks

“Now the window is closed. It’s got nothing to do with Saturday’s game [v Tottenham] or the game on Tuesday [Atletico Madrid].

“I spoke with him Thursday and the day before so I don’t know anything about him being unhappy. 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.”

Rangnick address Ronaldo ‘trip’ claims

While on the subject of his forwards, Rangnick was also asked about the situation with Ronaldo at Manchester United.

Reports last weekend claim the player flew back to his native Portugal without the club’s permission. That’s after he learned he would only be a substitute in the Manchester derby.

Rangnick, however, has denied claims about Ronaldo’s trip home. Furthermore, the 63-year-old interim boss is dodging questions about Ronaldo’s reported unhappiness.

“I didn’t know anything about that trip,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense now to waste energy and deal with it. The games we have to play now are too important. I decided to put my focus on the upcoming games and not waste any energy with things that happened in the last six or seven days.”

Asked if Ronaldo is happy at United, Rangnick added: “I haven’t asked him if he’s happy at Manchester, at this club. He’s fit again, resumed training on Thursday and we shall see which formation we will line up with on Saturday.”

READ MOREPredicted Manchester United team to face Tottenham