While there are certainly some sections of the Manchester United support who would buy into the idea of cashing in on Marcus Rashford this summer – particularly with PSG planning for life after Kylian Mbappe – we feel almost duty-bound to play devil’s advocate.
Ok, even Marcus Rashford’s greatest admirers would have to admit that this season, at least compared to Erik ten Hag’s first campaign in the Old Trafford dugout, has been a bit of a let down.
Manchester United’s number ten became the first player in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era to hit 30 goals in all competitions during 2023/24. Nearly 12 months on, he is yet to even break into double figures.
But, if United did decide to consider offers, just where on earth do Ineos go for a replacement? Khvicha Kvaratskhelia? He too has endured a drop-off after a stellar 2022/23. Vinicius Junior? Impossible. Gabriel Martinelli, the one-time Red Devils trialist, is not leaving Arsenal.
Luis Diaz and Phil Foden are, for obvious reasons, untouchable for Man United.
Nico Williams and Antonio Nusa may turn into elite-level operators but, equally, they may not. Even Rafael Leao, the twinkle-toed talisman of AC Milan, is not fit to lace Rashford’s boots, according to former Italy, Roma and Real Madrid forward Antonio Cassano.
Who could replace Marcus Rashford at Manchester United
Leao, elegant yet explosive, is perhaps the player closest to Rashford – stylistically-speaking – on the market. He too is not immune to lengthy goal droughts, however, having gone five months without a single Serie A strike from September to the end of February this season.
“I continue to think (Leao is not a top-level player),” Cassano, never afraid to speak his mind, tells Domenica Sportiva onRai Sport. “Because, if I look at Rashford, as a winger last year he scores 26 goals (sic, 30) and plays in a wonderful league.”
Leao, who has a £150 million release clause in his Milan contract, has never even broken the 20-goal barrier in a season, let alone the 30-goal one.
“Since the league in Italy is not good, the problem is that he thinks he is a phenomenon,” Cassano adds. “He’s a good player who has great physical strength (but that’s it).
“Now, he’s (reportedly) worth 120, 130, 140 million euros? What are we talking about? We’re talking about a normal player who has physical strength.”
Rashford, it should be said, has averaged a goal or an assist every other game for Man United since that 3-2 Boxing Day victory over Aston Villa. For all the criticism understandably coming his way at times, the Carrington graduate remains one of the few players at Ten Hag’s disposal capable of providing a consistent attacking threat.
Rio Ferdinand explains Rashford struggles
“When you’re the biggest star, the light shines brightest on you. And in moments where it’s not going well, you’re the guy that takes all of the punches. It’s unfortunate for him,” United icon Rio Ferdinand tells The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, trying to get into the mind of a man who continues to flit from the awesome to the anyonymous.
“He does show moments where he takes your breath away with some of things that he does. But he doesn’t do it enough. I don’t know if it’s the team, he hasn’t had a consistent team around him or the consistency of the managers being there.
“But you just look at the basics of his game,” the Champions League-winning centre-back adds. What’s he good at? He’s great at running in behind. As a defender, I wouldn’t want to play against him. He’d give me nightmares because he’s so quick, his timing his brilliant and he can finish as well.
“But either he doesn’t run in behind enough as he should, or he’s disillusioned (because) the ball isn’t coming.”