Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has never been one to mince his words, and his recent comments on Marcus Rashford’s reported desire to leave Old Trafford are a case in point.
Speaking to Sky Bet, Sheringham offered a blunt assessment of Rashford’s current situation, comparing it unfavourably with the standards and mentality of players from his own era.
Lack of Appreciation
Sheringham’s central criticism revolves around a perceived lack of appreciation from Rashford for the privilege of playing for a club like Manchester United. “If you assess where Marcus Rashford is at as a professional footballer, you strive as a youngster to get to the very top and play for clubs like Manchester United, and when you’re there, you appreciate it,” Sheringham said. “You don’t throw it away and say you want to leave.”
For Sheringham, who famously fought his way up from lower-league football to the peak of European success with United, this kind of attitude cuts deep. He describes the saga as “soul-destroying,” lamenting how modern players sometimes treat a club of United’s stature as just another stop on their career ladder, rather than the pinnacle of their ambitions. Sheringham’s words reflect an old-school mentality rooted in gratitude, perseverance, and loyalty—values he feels are being eroded.
Barcelona Move "Not Deserved"
His frustration is not limited to Rashford alone. He draws a direct comparison to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s messy departure from Arsenal, a saga that left many fans disillusioned. “I didn’t like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doing that at Arsenal, I thought it was soul-destroying, and I hope Rashford doesn’t get the move that he’s hankering for.”
Perhaps the most pointed of Sheringham’s remarks is his assessment of the potential destinations for Rashford. Reports have linked the England forward with a move to Barcelona, a club historically seen as a step up from almost any other in world football. Sheringham, however, rejects the notion that Rashford has earned such a transfer. “From my perspective, if you go from Manchester United to Barcelona, that’s a step up that he hasn’t deserved.” It’s a damning indictment not just of Rashford’s recent form, but of what Sheringham sees as an inflated sense of entitlement.
