Marcus Rashford is keen to draw a line under his difficult relationship with Ruben Amorim as Manchester United prepare for a reunion with their former manager.
The Red Devils face AC Milan in Poland on Saturday in their final pre-season friendly before the new campaign, with Amorim now occupying the opposition dugout.
It creates a fascinating subplot for Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, two players who endured strained relationships with the Portuguese during his turbulent spell at Old Trafford.
According to the Daily Mail, sources close to both United stars insist they are eager to move on from their previous issues with Amorim rather than turn Saturday’s encounter into a personal grudge match.
There is, however, reportedly plenty of motivation elsewhere within the club to get one over their former boss, with some United staff said to be particularly determined to beat Amorim’s Milan side.
Rashford’s relationship with Amorim spectacularly deteriorated during the 2024-25 campaign.
The forward was frozen out of the first team and went nearly two months without appearing in a Premier League matchday squad after being dropped ahead of the Manchester derby.
Amorim then publicly criticised Rashford following a 1-0 victory over Fulham in January 2025.
Marcus Rashford is keen to draw a line under his difficult relationship with Ruben Amorim as Manchester United prepare for a reunion with their former manager
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PA
“It’s always the same reason: the training, the way I see a footballer should do in life,” he said.
“It’s every day, every detail. If things don’t change, I will not change.
“You can see on the bench we miss a bit of pace on the bench. But I would put [Man United goalkeeper coach Jorge] Vital before a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day.”
Rashford subsequently joined Aston Villa on loan before spending last season with Barcelona, where he won LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup.
Ruben Amorim and Marcus Rashford failed to click before Manchester United loaned the winger to Aston Villa last year | GETTY
Amorim also experienced friction with Mainoo, publicly defending his decision not to start the midfielder during the first half of last season.
“You love Kobbie, he starts for England. But that doesn’t mean that I need to put Kobbie [in] when I feel that I shouldn’t put Kobbie [in], so it’s my decision,” he said in December.
The landscape at United has changed dramatically since then.
Amorim departed following an explosive press conference after a match against Leeds, with Michael Carrick subsequently taking charge.
Rashford has now been reintegrated into the United squad and his return has reportedly been warmly received by his team-mates.
New signing Youri Tielemans, who previously played alongside Rashford during his Aston Villa loan, has also rejected some of the perceptions surrounding the 28-year-old.
Michael Carrick and Marcus Rashford were once team-mates at Man Utd | PA
“He was very humble, he was just hard working, and from the first training you could tell his touch, his acceleration was just amazing,” Tielemans said.
Carrick, meanwhile, believes the changes at United have given Rashford an opportunity to reset.
“In some ways, it feels a fresh start, you know, with new players coming into the building, new challenges, new things to try and win, it’s quite exciting,” he said.
Rashford’s longer-term future nevertheless remains uncertain, with Carrick stopping short of guaranteeing he will remain beyond the transfer deadline.
