AC Milan won the Supercoppa Italiana just three days ago against their city rivals Inter, and yet the headlines are being dominated by one topic: Marcus Rashford.
The idea of Milan signing Rashford seems to be causing great divide among the supporter base, with some keen for the directors to explore a move and others believing he is not the kind of addition they should be looking at.
Before diving into the key factors to consider, it is important to provide a round-up of where things are at currently. The Athletic stated that Rashford’s brother-agent is in discussions with Milan over a potential move, having flown to Italy on Tuesday to do so.
Both Sky in the UK and in Italy added that the Rossoneri have put forward their plans to his entourage, even floating the idea of a loan with option to buy formula and telling him that he will have to fight for a starting spot.
Moreover, Sky in Germany are suggesting that Borussia Dortmund are not in the race, so Milan might have a clear run even if Juventus and Spurs are now being mentioned. What must the club consider if they are to accelerate?
1. What’s the deal?
The discussions might as well not go any further at all unless Milan can complete an operation that is weighted in their favour. They have quite a bit of leverage: Manchester United need rid of Rashford, and at the same time the club can explore other targets like Francisco Trincao or Pepe in Portugal.
What seems to be the most advantageous end result for the Diavolo would be securing a loan with an option to buy. With that particular formula, the risk is removed of simply rehabilitating or even developing a player owned by another club and then losing him six months later.
Of course any option to buy would likely be set north of €30m – that’s the calibre of player we are talking about if he hits his stride – but like the Fikayo Tomori deal some time ago (his option was close to €30m) it could be too good an opportunity to reject come the summer.
Various things would have to be ironed out in order for everything to fall into place and the biggest one is salary. Firstly, the amount that United would cover for the initial loan. Secondly, the wage packet that Rashford would get if it were to become permanent in the summer.
If the Red Devils were to cover half of his £15.6m yearly salary for half a season then a short-term deal becomes affordable, but a big pay cut would be needed for there to be any possibility of the journey continuing past June. That is something the management will no doubt be outlining in initial talks.
2. Which Rashford?
It is important not to turn a blind eye to the whole reason that Marcus Rashford has even emerged as a transfer possibility. He has been ostracised by the new coach Ruben Amorim, amid widespread reports that there are concerns about his attitude and off-field conduct.
The heights that the forward has hit during the not-so-distant past are frightening: in the 2022-23 season, he racked up 39 goal contributions across all competitions including 30 goals. He was, simply put, among the elite Premier League players that season.
While that was only the season before last – and he has multiple other 20+ goal seasons to his name prior – the last 18 months paint a more worrying picture. Last season he scored eight goals and had give assists in 43 games, going from 0.63 goals per 90 the campaign before to just 0.24.
This season hasn’t been as bad as many might presume. The Englishman has 10 goal contributions to his name in 19 starts, with seven of them being goals, and his underlying numbers are actually up from last season.
To this we must add some environmental context: Old Trafford has been a beacon of instability in recent years. Since Rashford made his senior debut in 2015 he has worked under no less than eight different head coaches, from Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho to Ralf Rangnick and Erik Ten Hag.
That cannot help the development of a player who already feels the added pressure of often being the one that the fans look towards to be the shining light in a dark room. The Manchester-born boyhood fan of the club has been commanded to set an example from so young, and has no doubt felt the emotional toil of carrying the team through difficult seasons for nearly a decade.
It is vital, therefore, that the directors speak with the player to understand if the fire still burns inside or if this is just an escape route from a toxic place. Zlatan Ibrahimovic played with Rashford and they won the Europa League together, so he could play a key role.
One can also presume that Rashford will have 2026 World Cup ambitions, an additional motivational factor given that he lost his way a bit under Gareth Southgate, after previously wearing the armband for his country.
Speaking of his country, the fact that Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham are all present will help with the daunting prospect of a first move abroad. He will know all three from previous England camps, and that could really help him assimilate into his new environment.
3. Where would he play?
This is where a discussion needs to be held with Sergio Conceicao. Where does the new coach see him playing? Would he be a simple deputy left winger, in which case the salary investment might not be worth it, or would he be a really useful ‘wild card’?
Rashford can play on the right but he has not had his best days there, but what will perhaps intrigue is the idea of a 4-4-2 with the 27-year-old playing off either Alvaro Morata or Tammy Abraham, allowing Rafael Leao to keep his place out wide.
Conceicao has preached about versatility with regards to the formation, but if the Portuguese wants to go with a more permanent 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 then that changes things. Rashford is not someone who thrives as a lone striker, and as mentioned the flanks are already taken.
It is important to provide evidence through numbers. Rashford has 138 goals and 63 assists in 426 games for Manchester United across all competitions in his career and during that time he has played across the forward line.
According to Transfermarkt, the breakdown is as follows: 69 goals and 36 assists in 221 games playing on the left; 55 goals and 20 assists in 143 games as a centre-forward; 12 goals and seven assists in 49 games as a right winger.
In the aforementioned 2022-23 season with 39 goal contributions, 22 of them came on the left side and 15 of them as a striker, but it must be noted that he sometimes played off someone else so those numbers were not necessarily with him ‘leading the line’.
Milan should not put themselves in any position of risk barring a salary payment and perhaps a small loan fee. The three factors mentioned above have to be in the club’s favour, and then the pitch will do the talking.
To conclude with a bold statement, if Rashford hits the ground running at Milan and gets back to the levels of two years ago, he would be the best player in Serie A. If it is a continuation of recent months, he might not even be an upgrade on Noah Okafor.
That 4231 front line, with Rashford at CAM, is disgusting.
Morata is more of a CAM than Rashford.
I guess they are serious about bringing him in.
If they play him as a striker, Milan can be very dangerous for teams in UCL by playing on the counters with devastating speed from Rashford, Theo, Leao, and Pulisic.
But vs. teams that sit back, it will be even a bigger struggle than it is right now. No room to stretch your legs in low block.
Article pretty much says it all. is the risk worth taking? He could be the next Puli for us, or be a Jovic type. I think the risk is worth taking, simply because Okafor has been injured often. Even if Rashford does not hit the heights of 18 months ago, he will contribute more than any injured player. IF the price is right.
The problem is precisely that: the PRICE. This is not a 15M€ transfer with a 3M€ salary per year, this is a lot of money for transfer and a big salary (even if Manchester United pays half of it).
Also consider his attitude, the man is a prima dona, do you think he will just accept being the new Okafor and subbing Leao from time to time.
Dani Olmo or Arda Guller, even with those bad conditions, are better deals IMO.
Rashford is going to be more of a Divock Origi, definitely not a Pulisic or even a Jovic.
Origi was a once in a while scorer has been cast off by Liverpool. Total useless piece of stool.
You can’t coast off a single 30 goal season forever – that was almost two seasons ago, and he’s been below average ever simce getting his big contract.
Rashford is not a striker and keeping him as deputy of leao is a waste. Better buy the real CAM instead of Loftus-Cheek and Rashford
Same risk analysis we did on Puli and RLC where their forms weren’t good at the time though they had shown better prior and also, they had injury concerns. Same for us wrt Rash in this situation. We know he can score and can do well, it’s just a matter of are we going to get a Puli or an RLC (as of now). Sometimes they work sometimes they don’t..let’s hope it works out.
I don’t know about that.
It’s true that many (including myself) had doubts about Pulisic and RLC, but their positions were clear and they were going to be starters.
Is Rashford going to be our starter ST ? Can he play as a ST ? If not, is he just going to be a sub ? For that much money and salary ?
I don’t know about salary, cost and all that. But I’m just saying, in terms of when we got Puli and RLC for whatever position we didn’t buy them at their best period but they were young enough to still obtain that sort of form again. That’s the similarity. And that’s what we’re hoping on again
My guess in terms of position is that our strikers aren’t firing and with Okafor potentially leaving we need a capable sub. Rash can play across the entire attacking line (LF/LW, St, RF/RW, CAM in that order) giving proper relief to both Leao and Puli.
Here’s the difference with Pulisic. AC Milan got him for a song. Pulisic came in with the attitude of I’ll do whatever it takes. He had the same attitude at Chelsea but had Tuchel who didn’t believe in him and bought Sterling or played ‘I can’t hit a barn door’ Werner and Potter who was locked in on Sterling. The Prima Donna Rashford has shown no fight. He’s been living in the Utd past.
Also, Pulisic came in with most expecting him to play backup to Leão and even backup to Chuck. He worked and earned his spot. Does Rashford work at this point.
And that’s a fair point about his attitude (I guess we can make that point about Puli and maybe not so much RLC, right?). But imo just like Theo he just needs the right carrot and I think we have it here. I think he’s going to do well of we get him.
My concern now is that a new manager comes into Utd and he doesn’t fight for his spot. He has a bad attitude by some reports. What’s it going to take for Rashford to get going? He went from being Utd’s golden boy to being not wanted. In all honesty, I’ve never been a Rashford fan. For the money being spent, would that money be better spent on other positions? I think Rashford is not going to add a great deal to the team whereas a good #10 and right back would be of greater benefit. But hey, buy the shinny object.
I agree that the money COULD be better spent elsewhere (a defensive mid…hello 🤦♂️😅). It’s just that I don’t trust Moncada and co to spend it wisely elsewhere lol 😂. In terms of cost, yea if he reduces his wage demands or Utd pays like half during the loan period then I’m fine with that. It’s a low cost, low risk option for a potential quality leap in attack.
In terms of his attitude I don’t know what to say there. I’ve seen him more than I’d like to admit (my brother is a man Utd fan so I end up watching all their games, I’m not an expert but I know man Utd as much as Milan weirdly or sadly haha) and he’s absolutely fantastic on his days. I know he has a partying lifestyle that seems to hinder his game too. But I think a new environment might suit him. Plus he’ll have enough English speakers in our team to make the transition better.
It’s certainly not an option I’m jumping for joy on but I also don’t see it as a terrible option either.
If Milan get Rashford, it will do more harm then benefit. If his wage will be 6.5 m for 6months. Then what Leao/Theo/Mike/reijnders/ should get paid!?!
If you want someone who will spend all his time in the nightclub or flying back and forth to the US to watch basketball then Rashford is your man.
However if u want someone who loves the club and will fight to the very last breath for the badge, then steer clear.
Can’t even believe we are linked to this overpaid, overhyped, so called player, I would rather have Colombo back a million times than this fella.
We can’t pay him. Let him be. Instead Madrid should do us a brahim diaz favor by giving us Arda Gular.
Feels like we’re trying to force him into this team even at the cost of playing him out of position.
1. If his preferred position is the Left Wing then he’s an expensive Okafor (with a higher ceiling).
2. He won’t survive as a lone 9, so playing him in Morata’s spot is useless.
3. If we field a 442 and partner him with a striker, then we’re effectively putting more strain on our midfield (Fofana/Reijnders) and wingers to track back and defend. Chris does that already anyway, but Leao’s defensive contributions are yet to be determined.
I get that Tammy won’t likely stay past the summer and Morata hasn’t done enough, but surely we can find a cheaper/better fit than Rashford. He’s undeniably talented. But is he worth the labor pains?
Hope they consult Conceicao and not try to force him like they did with CDK.
I would rather we get Darwin Nunez than Rashford. I don’t see Conceição only using 442 but even if we do Nunez offers more due to his work rate on and off the ball.
I do agree that darweezy makes more sense
lol. He hit 30 goals only in 1 season. Yes just one season throughout his long career despite his age. Rubbish article, it is not just lack go goals/ goal contribution. The problem is he played really bad, act uninterested and lazy. Don’t say Conceicao will fix him, no Amorim is also a tough coach, who drops him just after 2 matches. But well, the American are more interested in marketability.