Marcus Rashford has admitted he is “ready for a new challenge” as talk of a potential departure from Manchester United continues to grow.

It was reported earlier this month that the United academy graduate had been made available for transfer, with a price tag of £40m believed to be enough to strike a deal for Rashford.

Further contributing to the uncertainty was new head coach Ruben Amorim’s decision to drop Rashford from his matchday squad for the Manchester derby, although Amorim did repeatedly stress that the door was still open to Rashford and fellow omission Alejandro Garnacho.

However, in an interview with Henry Winter, Rashford has now admitted he is ready to leave United in search of a new challenge.

“For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” he said.

“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 as a person.

“If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse. I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person. When I leave I’ll make a statement and it will be from me.”

He added: “I’m halfway through my career. I don’t expect my peak to be now. I’ve had nine years so far in the Premier League and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person. So I don’t have any regrets from the last nine years. I won’t have any regrets going forward because I take things day by day and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I just try and keep a fine balance.”

Often contributing to the uncertainty surrounding Rashford’s future are reports of alleged behaviour issues, which Rashford insists are not entirely accurate.

“I do feel misunderstood but I’m fine with it,” he said. “I’m a very simple person. I love football. That’s been my life from the beginning.”

Rashford did his best to remain positive when he was dropped for the derby, even taking to social media to celebrate his side’s victory, but admitted Amorim’s decision was tough to take.

“It’s disheartening to be left out of a derby, but it’s happened, we won the game so let’s move on,” he said. “It’s disappointing but I’m also someone as I’ve got older I can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it? Or do my best the next time I’m available?”

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