MANCHESTER UNITED hero Lee Sharpe has warned his former club a potential exit by Marcus Rashford could come back to haunt them.
Rashford, 27, made headlines last week when he strongly suggested he wants to leave United by stating he is “ready for a new challenge”.
This comes amid two poor seasons with Man Utd in which the star forward has registered a mere 15 goals across both campaigns, which saw him getting cut from the team’s last three matches.
That is a far cry from the England international’s staggering 30 goals and nine assists in 56 appearances in the 2022-23 season.
Sharpe, 53, would hate to see Rashford leave after nearly two decades with the club but insists he needs to improve after a series of “moody” displays.
The ex-United ace believes efforts should be made by both the club and manager Ruben Amorim to keep the winger and try to introduce him to the new 3-4-3 formation.
That is because the ex-England international claims Rashford could still go somewhere else – potentially a Premier League rival – and thrive there like he used to at Old Trafford.
And that’s something that could have disastrous results for the Red Devils down the line.
Sharpe told SunSport on behalf of William Hill: “I think after we saw Marcus Rashford a few seasons ago, I think the thing with it is, he is not playing great.
“I don’t want him to leave [but he’s] not playing great, not on a high with the team struggling, with the new manager coming in with what could potentially be a whole new frontier for Manchester United. You know, this whole new system.
“Maybe Marcus Rashford could fit into the system really well, and he could thrive in it, but manager’s only been there a few weeks. So it’s a bit difficult to say.
“I would love Marcus Rashford to get back to what he was a couple of years ago, scoring 30-40 goals a season, absolutely destroying defenders and putting a shift in.
“But at the moment he seems to be, I have to say, a little bit moody when he’s playing.
“He’s not really working hard for the team, and he’s not really performing well.
“So I would not like to let him leave now and then go somewhere else and thrive and come back and haunt the team.”
RUBEN AMORIM suffered his worst defeat of his short reign as Man Utd boss with a shocking 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
And his flops were easily second best all over the park to Andoni Iraola’s Cherries.
SunSport’s Ian Whittell has provided his ratings of the Man United squad…
Andre Onana – 5
Shaky on ball and his nervousness in holding it too long was transmitted to United supporters.
Bad conditions for a keeper but there were also some uncertain moments when he needed two attempts to grasp on to long shots.
Noussair Mazraoui – 4
Complained bitterly about the penalty he gave away but it was hard to make a case in his defence.
Caught out, then panicked and tripped Justin Kluivert from behind to cap what was already an uninspiring display.
Harry Maguire – 4
All too often was second to the ball or simply failed to get hold of his man, with Evanilson too elusive for the United defender to shackle.
Ruben Amorim believes Maguire is perfect for his three-at-the-back formation but the jury is still out on that one.
Lisandro Martinez – 5
Stood watching as Semenyo swept in Bournemouth’s third goal, the latest in a long line of defensive embarrassments from United.
Seems to be struggling, like most of his defensive team mates, with the new system and incapable of doing even the basics.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Made a couple of good blocks and tried to become involved in attacking moments from wing-back, without having a huge impact.
On a day when United’s defence was again found wanting, however, he was not the worst culprit.
Manuel Ugarte
Booked for a cynical foul on Kluivert and too often struggled to cope with Bournemouth runners.
Too much of the game passed him by and did not last even the hour as United chased the game.
Kobbie Mainoo 6
Like most of his team, guilty of some unforced errors but there was no faulting his work rate or drive.
Created a great chance when he hounded Dean Huijsen off the ball and set up Bruno Fernandes but gave up the ball for Bournemouth’s third.
Tyrell Malacia 3
Terrible touch early on drew groans from the home fans, the first of a number of sloppy moments from the fit-again full-back.
Predictable that he should give away the free-kick from which the visitors opened the scoring and hooked at half-time.
Amad Diallo 7
The big winner from the Rashford controversy and could have lit up Old Trafford early on but placed a good chance straight at the keeper.
Not a performance on a par with his derby exploits but still looked United’s best hope of carving out a goal.
Bruno Fernandes 8
Playing higher, and wider, up the field these days and maybe there is a debate over whether that is the best use of his undoubted talents.
But in the last five minutes of the first half alone, he had three good chances which might have brought an equaliser.
Joshua Zirkzee 5
Given the nod ahead of Rasmus Hojlund, a reward for some decent recent performances under his new manager but this was not one of them.
Was the closest Red to Dean Huijsen as he headed Bournemouth in front though United’s defending was such a mess, it was not clear whether he was Zirkzee’s responsibility.
Substitutes
Leny Yoro (for Malacia, 46) 4
Came on as part of a much-needed half-time defensive reshuffle by Amorim but failed to add stability.
Alejandro Garnacho (for Ugarte, 54) 5
Had a chance when clean through just after Bournemouth’s third but hit it straight at Kepa.
Rasmus Hojlund (for Zirkzee, 54) 6
Looked like he might have a goal in him and at least forced Kepa into one good stop.
Substitutes (not used): Altay Bayindir, Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, Antony.
