Man Utd 'wanted to ship Marcus Rashford to seventh tier club' as private chat surfaces

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag incredibly claimed that he wanted to ship Marcus Rashford off to Macclesfield FC during a private conversation near the end of last season, according to reports. Ten Hag had seemingly come to his wits' end with the £300,000-a-week forward, who had been publicly disciplined twice in the same campaign.

The Dutchman helped Rashford achieve his career-best goalscoring season in 2022/23, netting 30 times in all competitions.

United rewarded their hometown hero with a bumper new contract, but he struggled to build on the momentum, plundering just eight goals in 43 games last term.

Rashford's issues extended off the pitch, too. He received mass backlash when he was spotted partying in Manchester hours after a derby defeat against Manchester City.

Ten Hag later dropped the 27-year-old from a matchday squad after it emerged that he had been drinking in Belfast the night before phoning in sick and missing training.

According to the Manchester Evening News, with five matches remaining last season, Ten Hag held discussions with influential voices on why he deserved more time as manager.

During the talks at Carrington, he touched on the club's relentless injury crisis, how he was unable to field a settled back four and his lack of a prolific striker.

However, Ten Hag is said to have also taken an opportunity to throw shade at Rashford when the England international's disciplinary record was brought up.

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The report claims one confidant jokingly suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson would've shipped Rashford off to Cheshire club Macclesfield had he stepped out of line under his watch.

Ten Hag reportedly responded by assuring the individual that if it wasn't for his lack of attacking firepower, he would've sent his No. 10 to the seventh-tier outfit himself.

It's a damning indicator of the pair's deteriorated relationship after enjoying such a fruitful partnership throughout the previous season.

Rashford was believed to be in the shop window last summer, but no suitable options landed at United's door, prompting a stay.

Yet, it became apparent that nine years after graduating from the club's academy, his head was elsewhere.

Ruben Amorim sensed it after replacing Ten Hag in November and exiled Rashford from squad selection, claiming he couldn't make him buy into his philosophy.

AC Milan, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund were among the overseas clubs linked with swoops for Rashford during the January transfer window.

He ultimately joined Aston Villa until the summer, when United's Premier League rivals will have the option to make the deal permanent for £40million.