Ruben Amorim issues clear response as Marcus Rashford says he’s ready to leave Man United

"I’m also someone as I’ve got older I can deal with setbacks."

On Tuesday, the out-of-favour attacker was on one of his regular charity outings, handing out 420 Christmas presents at his old primary school, Button Lane, in Manchester.

He spoke to journalist Henry Winter about his ambitions to play for England at the next World Cup, having been left out of Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad.

Given his form and behaviour at Man United, which culminated in him being dropped from the squad for last weekend's Manchester derby, a move away would seem like his best bet to make it back into the national team.

Rumours and talk of his departure have been growing stronger by the day, and we reported previously on interest from Saudi Arabia.

But Rashford's conversation with Winter surely spells the end for the 27-year-old, who has been at Old Trafford since 2005 and has racked up 138 goals in 426 appearances

He said: "I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.

"If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse. I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person. When I leave I’ll make a statement and it will be from me.

"It’s disheartening to be left out of a derby, but it’s happened, we won the game so let’s move on. It’s disappointing but I’m also someone as I’ve got older I can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it. Or do my best the next time I’m available.

"I’m halfway through my career. I don’t expect my peak to be now. I’ve had nine years so far in the Premier League and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person. So I don’t have any regrets from the last nine years.

"I won’t have any regrets going forward because I take things day by day and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I just try and keep a fine balance.” Asked if the best is yet to come? “100%. That’s my mentality."

Amorim's response.

Man United manager Ruben Amorim was asked about Rashford's comments during his pre-match press conference for United's game against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup.

The Portuguese coach has said that he wants the forward to remain at Old Trafford.

“I’ve not spoken to him yet," Amorim said.

"Yesterday was a day off for the lads. He’s our player and ready for the next game.

I spoke with a lot of players individually during training sessions. What I want is to take the best Marcus Rashford 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.