MARCUS RASHFORD should at least consider the advice of Harry Maguire, his team-mate and former captain at Manchester United.
Maguire has had his problems at Old Trafford, like Rashford, and has also suffered a huge amount of criticism again, like Rashford.
But the centre-half has stubbornly refused to leave, maintaining that once you quit United, the only way is down.
This is something Rashford should remember as he steps towards the exit during this January transfer window.
Rashford’s brother and representative, Dwaine Maynard, has held talks with Milan and is likely to speak to more clubs over the coming days.
And it is hardly surprising that a large number of clubs, both in England and Europe, have approached United over recruiting an enormous talent like the 27-year-old.
The latest rumours suggest West Ham have entered the race.
His £350,000-a-week wages are, unsurprisingly, a huge stumbling block. The negotiations will be complicated as clubs will want United to still commit to some of the wages while there is also the size of a fee if the loan deal is with a view to a permanent transfer.
Rashford is in a different situation to Maguire or the other stars at United as he has been at the club all of his life. We should not underestimate how difficult this can be.
As Trent Alexander-Arnold will testify at Liverpool, local lads who come through the ranks at a club are judged and treated more harshly by supporters, which does seem grossly unfair.
It has been a particularly difficult couple of years for Rashford and since Ruben Amorim arrived in late November, the situation has not improved.
As Rashford revealed in his interview last month with journalist Henry Winter, “it is time for a new challenge.”
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It was interesting that Rashford gave the interview while returning to his former school to hand out 420 Christmas presents.
Rashford has done an extraordinary number of good things away from football and here was the latest evidence. The way he lobbied the UK government to provide free school lunches for youngsters during the Covid pandemic was an outstanding effort.
So those who have guided him in the past should be given credit. Equally, the decision to speak so candidly about his situation at United before Christmas following the arrival of a new coach- although all journalists would have loved to get that interview - was a move which was always going to annoy Amorim.
Yet the problem with Rashford is that he has been a source of frustration for every United manager he has played under. It just seems that now, he is less worried about infuriating the club’s management or maybe, he does not really care at all.
Seedless tomatoes
In October 2023, the striker was spotted partying just hours after his club got hammered by Manchester City.
And 12 months ago, Rashford went on a 12-hour tequila booze bender in Belfast. One of the other memorable facts from this trip was the claim that he ordered bruschetta at a restaurant but did not touch it as he does not like tomatoes with seeds in them.
And according to a Belfast waitress he befriended on the night, Rashford also speculated whether he would be able to play his own music at a nightclub. Although trivial, it illustrated that maybe, here was someone in danger of becoming detached from reality as this was not normal behaviour. He then reported ill the following day and missed United’s FA Cup win at Newport.
Understandably, Erik ten Hag was livid and fined the player two weeks’ wages. In his recent interview, Rashford claimed he was “misunderstood” and he seems to be a genuinely shy individual, rather than a gobby extrovert.
He still has only himself to blame for his drop in form on the pitch but equally, he is young enough - and certainly good enough - to get back on track.
By searching for another club, Rashford is looking to kickstart his flagging England career. His debut came against Australia in a friendly before Euro 2016 and he has picked up 60 caps, scoring 17 goals.
In total, 57 of those appearances came under Gareth Southgate but the England manager became exasperated with Rashford as he was often unavailable for many internationals due to injury, before then playing in the next Premier League game for United.
England's incoming manager Thomas Tuchel insists everyone has a clean slate and this will include Rashford.
So he has a terrific chance to be part of a squad for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
This is why it is important that Rashford, outstanding for United in the 2022/23 season, picks his next club wisely. Whether you can trust the people around him to give the right advice remains to be seen.
There is a school of thought that in the short-term, he would be better to get his head down at United under Amorim.
Whatever he decides to do, it is vital that he remains professional on the pitch but also off it.
Ultimately, he needs to start enjoying his football again and only then will we see the old Marcus Rashford.