Marcus Rashford has been linked with an Old Trafford return recently, with Michael Carrick a fan of that scenario if he remains in charge.
At the end of January, it was revealed that Michael Carrick “would like” Marcus Rashford to return to Old Trafford if he were given the full-time head coach position for next season and beyond.
While it became clear that a return was unlikely, Marcus Rashford continued to shine in Barcelona. He was loaned to the club with a £30 million buy-option, which could be activated if Barcelona can afford it.
His spell in Spain has arguably been the best form of his career, with his time under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Erik ten Hag also a spell of ‘Prime Rashford’.
Last season, Rashford spent the second half of the season on loan at Aston Villa. Like this year, Rashford impressed, but it appeared that he needed a move as far away from Manchester United as possible to get his career back on track.
The ongoing managerial chaos at Old Trafford hasn’t helped Rashford’s career, but a former United employee has claimed Rashford could be to blame for his poor form.
Thornly reveals “unhappy” Rashford
Rashford has often been criticised for poor body language and a negative attitude, but it’s hard to argue that when he was at full confidence, he was a deadly player. Many believed confidence to be the main issue. Former United masseur Ron Thornly claims otherwise.
“I’ll say it I don’t mind, I know Marcus and if he’s not happy with what I say, I don’t care,” he said on The Busby Way Podcast.
“He became unhappy. He became a different person. I watched this player that used to be a happy, lovely kid just moping around, especially in the club.
“Outside the club I used to see him every now and then and he was fine outside the club, but in the club he had this demeanour about him that just wasn’t great.
“Then it transferred onto the pitch and then you see him walking around and you just wanted energy levels out of him, which is what Michael Carrick is doing now.
“He’s getting energy levels out of the players and you wanted that out of Marcus, but you just weren’t getting it and it was tossed off basically.
“For me he’s half tossed off his Manchester United career rather that it has been taken away from him.”
United must protect their academy players
In recent years, several United academy players have been branded with a ‘bad attitude’ due to their body language on the pitch, or simply being over-criticised.
Rashford is the prime example. He came through the club and was the only source of any joy at Old Trafford for several years, but he hit a dip in form, and instead of rallying around him, people turned their backs on him. Why?
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Kobbie Mainoo, likely because he is younger, didn’t receive quite the same treatment. He was always cheered by the Old Trafford crowd – more so than any other – on the odd chance Rúben Amorim decided to play him. And now, he’s back, and arguably one of the best in the team.
That’s the lesson. Stick by your academy players, who, it’s clear, are giving their all to play at Old Trafford.
It’s their dream, too.
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