Marcus Rashford’s future at Manchester United has been placed in renewed doubt following the player’s failure to be named in the starting XI for the Premier League match against Wolves for disciplinary reasons.
Rashford may be Man Utd’s leading scorer in the Premier League this season with five goals, but that did not stop Ten Hag giving him the cold shoulder for the Red Devils’ final match of 2022.
The England attacker, who scored three goals at the World Cup for his country, has had a one-year extension in his contract triggered, meaning that he is at Old Trafford until 2024, yet he has been linked with a transfer away from the club, with PSG thought to be particularly interested. Real Madrid have also been linked with a possible move.
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Why did Marcus Rashford not play against Wolves?
Ten Hag’s decision to drop Rashford to the bench – and to reveal the reason – will only add fuel to the fire that he could leave the club, if not in January, then potentially in the summer.
He told the media prior to the match: “Internal disciplinary. No details. Our rules. Now focus on the game. He is in very good form and no-one can play all the games.”
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Marcus Rashford has been in scoring form for England and Man Utd
The prospect of Rashford leaving in the next month remains slim, in part because Man Utd have so few options in attack. Beyond the 25-year-old, there is only Anthony Martial who can operate in the No.9 role with confidence.
In part, this has been caused following a rift between Cristiano Ronaldo in the club that saw the 37-year-old Portuguese forward depart by mutual consent.
Although Man Utd fans largely took the side of the manager on that occasion, there will be concerns that he has had to come down hard on another one of the club’s offensive stars.
Ten Hag, though, did welcome Ronaldo back into the fold, suggesting that Rashford will not be frozen out by the Dutchman – but it is clear that he will have to watch his step if he wishes to remain a Manchester United player.