"I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps" - Marcus Rashford provides response to Manchester United exit rumors

Marcus Rashford has responded to rumors that he could be on the verge of an exit from Manchester United. The forward broke through the academy and has spent all of his professional playing career with the Red Devils, but it seems as though the end is near.

Rumors have linked him to a January exit, as new head coach Ruben Amorim looks to rejuvenate his squad. The Portuguese coach's decision to leave Rashford out of the squad entirely for their 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on December 15 has only heightened these rumors.

Rashford has now addressed the situation in an interview with football journalist Henry Winter. The Manchester United winger said:

“For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps. When I leave it's going to be ‘no hard feelings’. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person."

"If I know that a situation is already bad I'm not going to make it worse. I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person. When I leave I'll make a statement and it will be from me."

When asked if he would always be a Red Devil 'from the heart', Marcus Rashford responded:

"Yes! 100%. 100%.”

This season, Rashford has struggled to find goalscoring form. He has scored four goals and provided one assist in 15 Premier League games, before being left out of the squad.

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has explained his decision to cut Marcus Rashford from derby squad

Ruben Amorim made the shocking decision to leave Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of the squad entirely for their derby against Manchester City. The Manchester United head coach provided a reason for this, while admitting that it had nothing to do with injury.

He said to Sky Sports ahead of the match (via The Premier League):

"We try to evaluate everything, training performance, game performances, engagement with team-mates, push their team-mates up. Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple..."

"Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide."

Ruben Amorim's decision was justified as Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo scored two late goals (88') (90') to secure a comeback win over their neighborhood rivals. They won the game without Marcus Rashford or Alejandro Garnacho, raising questions about the duo's future at Manchester United.