Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said that he wants to keep Marcus Rashford at Old Trafford in response to the forward's bombshell interview on Tuesday.
Rashford told journalist Henry Winter that he is "ready for a new challenge and the next steps", with the attacker seemingly suggesting that he is ready to leave Old Trafford, potentially during the January transfer window.
However, Amorim interpreted the forward's words differently, and the Portuguese has insisted that the Red Devils academy product remains in his plans despite being left out of the squad for the Manchester derby on Sunday.
"I think he is right," Amorim said at his press conference to preview Thursday's EFL Cup quarter-final with Tottenham Hotspur. "We have here a new challenge, it is a tough one. For me, it is the biggest challenge in football, because we are in a difficult situation.
"This is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so this is really a new challenge, and the biggest one. I hope all my players are ready for this challenge."
© Imago
Amorim says Man United "are better with Marcus Rashford"
When asked whether he had spoken with Rashford since Tuesday's interview, Amorim said: "No, not yet. It was yesterday, I gave the day off to the lads, so he's our player and he's ready for the next game.
"I spoke with a lot of players individually and during training, what I want is to take the best stuff of Marcus Rashford as the player so I don't talk about the future, I just talk about the present, I want the best of each one of them and that is the key point for me, I just want to win and to help the team be better.
"We are better with Marcus Rashford, that is simple and we will try different things to push Marcus to the best levels he showed in the past. And that's all.
"(Do you want to keep him?) Of course, because this kind of club needs big talent and he's a big talent, so he just needs to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help Marcus."
© Imago
Will Rashford, Garnacho be in Man United squad against Tottenham?
Alejandro Garnacho was another high-profile player to be left out of the squad for the clash with Man City on Sunday, with Amorim confirming ahead of the match that neither the Argentina international nor Rashford were injured.
Amorim has said that he will make a final decision on whether the pair will be involved against Tottenham once their final training session on Wednesday has taken place.
"We have one more training, but it's the same situation of all the other players. If they train well then I have to make a choice. We will see see at the end of training," said the manager.
"Of course (I expect a reaction). I expect the best of each player every day so we will see after training."
© Imago
How does this one end? Will Rashford leave in January?
Man United are said to be willing to sell Rashford for as little as £40m during the January transfer window, but Garnacho is still said to be in the long-term plans of the 20-time English champions.
Paris Saint-Germain are considered to be the favourites for Rashford, while there have also been suggestions that he could make the move to Saudi Arabia.
Amorim was never going to commit to a Rashford sale during Wednesday's press conference, as it would devalue him.
However, it is very difficult to imagine a long-term future for Rashford at Man United now considering what has occurred, and it would be best for both parties to move on, with the Red Devils looking to a future without their academy product.
Matt Law
