Marcus Rashford was sent home from Manchester United training the day after his Manchester derby omission – as the forward admitted he is seeking a new challenge away from Old Trafford.
Forward Rashford has been on United’s books since the age of seven, but the 27-year-old is eyeing the exit door after being ruthlessly axed by new boss Ruben Amorim for the trip to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Amorim left out both Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the matchday squad for the derby clash, citing their behaviour and attitude around the squad as not being up to scratch as he seeks to make his mark the club’s new boss.

Rashford then reported for duty at United’s Carrington training ground on Monday morning, as per the Daily Mail, but after being assessed by a doctor he was deemed to have a high temperature and was sent home.

Rashford then spent Tuesday at his old primary school where he handed out 420 Christmas presents to local children, but it was there that he told the journalist Henry Winter than he would like to leave United for pastures new.

“For me, personally, I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” said Rashford. “When I leave it’s going to be no hard feelings. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me. I will always be a Red.”

Rashford still has over three years remaining on the £315,000 a week contract he signed last year, and it remains to be seen if any potential suitors will be willing to offer him a deal that would satisfy his demands.

It is thought that United would be willing to accept offers of around £40m for the England international, whose exit is beginning to be seen as essential as Amorim makes his mark on the squad.

Explaining his decision to omit Rashford and Garnacho against City, Amorim said: “(It was) selection. We try to evaluate everything – training, performance, game performance, engagement with the teammates, push the teammates up.

“Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players, so it was my selection. Simple. I don’t want to send a message (to the dressing room with this). It’s simply an evaluation, and they know it.”