Rashford goes from star to forgotten player: He has no future at Man United

Marcus Rashford seemed to have been touched by a magic wand in 2016 when, at 18 years and three months old, Louis van Gaal gave him a chance in the Manchester United first team.

He became the third-youngest player to score in the Premier League with the Red Devils, the earliest to score on his debut for England, and the youngest to score in the Manchester derby.

He was, and is, an example on and off the field. Rashford has become a leading campaigner against racism, illiteracy, child poverty and the fight against hunger. He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire after helping to feed more than 1.3 million children.

His decline

Rashford was destined to become a star, but his impact has faded over the last year. The Europa League final loss against Villarreal and his missed penalty against Italy in the final of Euro 2020 -he only played 83 minutes in the whole tournament- marked the beginning of his descent into hell.

His miss against the Azzurri, having come on in the 119th minute, led to one of the most unpleasant moments of his career, as social media was filled with racist insults towards him, as well as Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka.

His drama, however, started much earlier. Rashford suffered a torn left shoulder in November 2020 and played the entire second half of the season in discomfort.

"He was jabbed with painkillers. That restricted flexibility and strength and ended up affecting his speed," claimed Sky Sports. To make matters worse, against Manchester City in January 2021, he damaged ligaments in his right foot.

Rashford decided to undergo surgery after playing 57 games, scoring 21 goals and dishing out 15 assists last season.

"I've read some people calling me selfish for delaying the surgery," Rashford said, "but I never thought of myself first."

He has played 31 games... 14 as a substitute!

The surgery, with the season about to start, was costly for Rashford. The Manchester United youth product has only played 31 games this season in all competitions... and 14 of them have been as a substitute.

The straw that broke the camel's back came when Ralf Rangnick chose to play without a No.9 - he opted for Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes - and left him on the bench against Leicester.

"It's no secret that he's not going through his best moment in terms of rhythm and confidence. The only thing we can do is talk to him and tell him what we expect. The rest is up to him," Rangnick said.

He has stopped playing for England

The final straw for Rashford came with being left out for England in the March break, the first time in six years he was left out of a squad due to a technical decision. And with Qatar 2022 just around the corner.

"It's a difficult time for Rashford. He's not in his best form ... but there's a long way to go before the World Cup. We know what he's capable of and we hope he can show it again," said Gareth Southgate, who also left out Jadon Sancho.

Rashford's future

Rashford has fallen out of favour following the signing of Jadon Sancho, especially for Rangnick. Not only Sancho. Even the suspended Mason Greenwood and youth product Anthony Elanga have been more prominent than Rashford in certain stretches of the season.

Sancho's arrival has had a direct effect on Rashford. It has moved him from the right to the left wing, where he does not feel as comfortable.

"I think he has to go. His time at Manchester United is over. He's a great player and I'm sure there will be hundreds of clubs who want him," Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports.

Gary Neville, however, is of the opposite opinion.

"It's a failure for the Manchester United football department if he leaves," Neville said. "Now, Rashford should get fit enough to play. If he leaves, they both lose. Solve the problem!"