Marcus Rashford: Rio Ferdinand reveals turning point that ended star’s Man United career | OneFootball

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has dropped a bombshell theory on what sparked the end of Marcus Rashford’s time at the club.

Rashford United’s career all but over

Currently enjoying a superb loan spell at Barcelona, it seems that Rashford’s time at United is over.

Soon after Ruben Amorim’s appointment as Erik ten Hag’s replacement, the Portuguese coach’s relationship with Rashford became strained. Rashford was left out of several matchday squads at Old Trafford before the club sanctioned a loan exit to Aston Villa for the latter half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Rashford enjoyed a slight uptick in form at Villa but the Birmingham outfit decided not to sign him permanently. He returned to United, who immediately made him available for transfer.

Several suitors lined up for the England international but he made it clear he was only interested in joining Barcelona. He eventually got his wish as he sealed a season-long loan switch to the Catalan giants.

Rashford has looked like a player reborn at Barcelona, with the Carrington academy graduate playing a leading role in their title defence push.

Rashford is largely expected to become a permanent Barcelona player at the end of the season. While Amorim remains the head coach of United, it’s unlikely the 28-year-old will ever put on the shirt for his boyhood club again.

Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Ferdinand suggested that the unfair criticism surrounding Rashford was the turning point for his time at Old Trafford.

Ferdinand explained that Rashford couldn’t do anything right – both on and off the pitch – as everything he did was subjected to intense scrutiny.

Ferdinand offers Rashford theory

Ferdinand said, “Marcus couldn’t do anything right while he was here towards the end. No matter what he did, if he went and fed kids, people would have said he’s doing it for fame. He’s doing it to be in the spotlight.”

“If he’d gone and put a video of him training, they’ll say, ‘Ah, he’s trying to prove to us that he’s working. Is he really working?'”

“Whatever he did, and listen, there are certain things that I may not have agreed with what he was doing or what was rumoured to have happened, whatever. But at the end of the day, people deserve a second chance. People deserve that comeback. People deserve to go and put their name back up in lights.”

“Like, he came on the scene and was doing things that were people going, ‘Wow, the kids all around the country, not just Man United fans, getting Rashford on the back of their shirts, right?’ That just doesn’t fall away.”

Meanwhile, United are back in action on Monday, November 25 when they host David Moyes’ Everton.

Featured image Alex Caparros via Getty Images

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