Man Utd star Marcus Rashford shares reason he snubbed Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo

Marcus Rashford came out fighting this week with a no-holds-barred interview addressing his critics and what he slams as false coverage of his life amid his struggles at Manchester United. The Red Devils’ No. 10 also offered an honest insight into the reality of his testing upbringing and undying dream of representing the club.

Rashford has failed to build on his career-best 2022/23 season, in which he scored 30 goals to guide Erik ten Hag to a third-place Premier League finish and the Carabao Cup.

He’s managed just five goals this term to contribute to United’s startling regression under the Dutchman and has often been blasted for his lack of effort and negative body language.

Ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby, where Rashford will undoubtedly be under the spotlight again at the Etihad Stadium, he has come out to defend his commitment to his boyhood club.

The 26-year-old went into detail about his time in the club’s youth ranks, where he battled with the difficulties of growing up with very little around Manchester to realise his dream.

And he revealed a story about when, as a child, he snubbed getting a photo with first-team superstars Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Money is great. It’s a blessing. But dreams are priceless. For me, even at 11 years old, playing for United was my only goal,” Rashford told The Players’ Tribune during an honest interview.

“I remember around that time when I was still trying to get signed, Wazza [Rooney] and Cristiano [Ronaldo] came by to do something with all the academy lads, and I was just looking at them in awe, you know what I mean?

“They had a photographer there, and at the end all us kids had a chance to get a picture with them, and I remember hanging in the back away from everyone.

“I remember my brother saying, ‘Go take a picture with Wazza, bro! What are you doing???’ I said, ‘I don’t need a picture.’