 |
Marcus Rashford’s move from Manchester United to Barcelona was not just a transfer, but the result of a long process in which Rashford himself had to face the truth about his form, role and future. In which, advice from Wayne Rooney - the legend who was Rashford’s leader at Old Trafford - acted as a “trigger” to help the 27-year-old striker find himself again.
From child prodigy to career turning point
Nearly a decade ago, Rashford was seen as the successor to Manchester United’s legendary “Class of 92” – David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers. In February 2016, coach Louis van Gaal, known for his trust in young players, sent 18-year-old Rashford onto the field in a Europa League match against Midtjylland.
Rashford’s double on his debut, followed by a goal against Arsenal in the Premier League, instantly made him the new darling of Old Trafford. Van Gaal said with great enthusiasm at the time: “Young players can shine in their first game, but to maintain that explosiveness in their second game is to prove that they are a special talent. And Marcus is that kind of talent.”
Indeed, Rashford brings the kind of energy and speed that makes opposing defenses miserable, and Manchester United fans dream of a new icon to replace Rooney - the club's 253-goal leader.
But football is not a one-sided story. Rashford, after years of sublimation, gradually got bogged down in huge expectations.
In the 2024/25 season, the English striker was continuously absent from coach Ruben Amorim's tactical plans and was removed from the competition list. This, for a player who was once considered a "hero" of the club's academy, was a big mental shock.
While Rashford was struggling, Wayne Rooney - his former teammate - gave him some "strange" but powerful advice. In January 2025, Rooney revealed that he had told Rashford privately: "You need to leave Manchester United and start over."
 |
Rooney once advised Marcus Rashford to leave Manchester United. |
Rooney's reasons are clear. At 27 - the prime of his career - Rashford cannot continue to flounder in his comfort zone but lack motivation.
Rooney recalled a memory that made him realise that Rashford was no longer suitable for the current environment: “One day I took the kids to Carrington to watch the academy team play and Marcus was training with the fitness coach. He was right in the area where the parents were walking past. I looked and wondered, for a player who had been a star of the first team, how uncomfortable and how unconfident that must have been.”
Rooney also emphasized: "At Manchester United, Marcus is no longer himself. If he wants a new start, he must leave."
Leaving Old Trafford - the inevitable choice
Indeed, Rashford has been with Manchester United for 20 years, since he was a 7-year-old boy. But this long-term commitment has unintentionally created pressure and fatigue.
Last season, Rashford was loaned out to Aston Villa, as a test to see if a new environment could help him regain his form. Results were only average, and Rashford himself publicly admitted: "I'm ready for a new challenge."
Barcelona came at the right time. The Catalan club are rebuilding under Hansi Flick, looking for attacking players with pace and skill to complement their youthful squad. For Rashford, Barca offers both opportunity and challenge: a rich and demanding footballing environment.
 |
Rashford was loaned to Aston Villa by Manchester United. |
Leaving the Premier League, Rashford stepped out of his familiar comfort zone to face a different football - where the tactical and technical requirements are somewhat different. This is exactly what Rooney mentioned when he said that Rashford needed to "renew" himself.
At 27, Rashford still has the potential to become a top player in Europe. His pace, acceleration and finishing are still valuable assets. It is just a matter of whether he can maintain the focus, desire and effort to adapt to a new football philosophy.
It can be said that the story between Rashford and Rooney is not only a senior-junior relationship, but also a lesson about a player's career. When a legend like Rooney sees the stagnation of his junior and frankly advises him to "leave", it is not only encouragement, but also a reminder to be brave enough to leave what is familiar to move forward.
Rashford now begins a new journey at Barcelona - where the challenges will be no less. He needs to prove that his decision to leave Manchester United is not the end of his career, but the beginning of a new chapter.
If successful, Rashford will not only please himself but also prove Rooney’s advice correct. If unsuccessful, this will be an expensive lesson about the choices of a player who seemed to have “peaked” too soon.
Regardless, Marcus Rashford's journey from Manchester to Barcelona is a testament to a truth in football: sometimes, to find yourself, players have to dare to leave the place that used to be their "home".
Source: https://znews.vn/cau-noi-la-lung-cua-rooney-lam-thay-doi-rashford-post1570617.html
Comment (0)