Ruben Amorim will not rule out Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford after the striker revealed he is seeking a transfer.
The Red Devils striker was notably left out of the matchday matchday defeat of rivals Manchester City on Sunday.
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Just a day later, the 27-year-old was sent home from Carrington due to illness.
But 24 hours later he was back at his old primary school, where he told Henry Winter he was “ready for a new challenge” after spending two decades at Old Trafford.
In his press conference ahead of Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final game at Tottenham, Amorim was asked for his opinion on Rashford’s comments.
The Pitch Prospect’s Manchester correspondent Micky Gray asked whether he would allow Rashford to remain part of his association if the striker targets a January exit.
Amorim avoided the question as best he could and said, “That is in the future.
“My focus is on all players doing their best to prepare for every game.”
“We talk about there being no ifs in this type of club. We just have to talk to them and focus on the game.”
Amorim was then pressed on Rashford’s view that he needed a new challenge, to which he stated: “I think it’s right.”
“We are facing a new challenge here, it is a difficult one, for me the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation and I have already said that this is one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
“This is a really new and biggest challenge. I really hope that all my players are ready for this new challenge.”
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Amorim also admitted that he had not yet had the opportunity to speak to Rashford following his interview.
He remarked, “No, not yet. It was yesterday, I gave the boys the day off, so he’s our player and he’s ready for the next game.”
“I have spoken to many players individually and during training I want to take the best of Marcus Rashford as a player so I don’t talk about the future.”
“I only talk about the present, I want to get the best out of each individual and that is the crucial point for me. I just want to win and help the team get better.”
But Amorim stressed he would like to keep Rashford at the club as he insisted the “big talents” like the England international needed to be kept at the Theater of Dreams.
He said: “We are better with Marcus Rashford, that is quite simple and we will try different things to get Marcus to the best level he has shown in the past. And that’s all.”
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“Of course (I would like to keep him) because this type of club needs great talent and he is a great talent.”
“So he just has to perform at his best and that’s my focus. I just want to help Marcus.”
However, Amorim ultimately remained tight-lipped about whether Rashford, who was unwell earlier in the week, and his released teammate Alejandro Garnacho would be ready for selection against Spurs.
He said: “We still have training but it’s the same situation as all the other players.”
“If they train well, I have to make a choice. We’ll see at the end of training.”