Marcus Rashford said he expected his Manchester United career to go differently to how it did, and named Barcelona's Lamine Yamal as the closest player to Lionel Messi's level, during a rare Q&A session with fans before the Roma game.
Rashford spoke in the Ambassadors' Lounge at Old Trafford to supporters who had paid for premium hospitality. The package is worth around £2,500 and offers tickets for one row behind the United dugout, along with a meet-and-greet, a five-course dining menu, 'behind-the-scenes access' and a live Q&A. It also offers a reserved area to greet the team as they arrive at Old Trafford on the team bus. On United's website, the club has described the hospitality offering as their "luxury" matchday experience.
Rashford's Return to Public Speaking
Michael Carrick was without Rashford for a fourth game in a row on Tuesday. The forward is currently recovering from hip and thigh injuries, meaning he was available to speak to fans in the hospitality suite. Rashford has done limited media in recent years, and the Q&A was the first time he has spoken publicly since his return to United following Barcelona's decision not to sign him permanently after his loan last season.
The 29-year-old appeared relaxed during the Q&A, which was led by a host before questions were opened to the floor.
On His United Career and Idols
Asked about his 138 goals for United, Rashford said he remembers every goal. He said he did not keep a record of them at home, adding: "No, I don't, because I expected my United career to go differently to how it did, so you know initially I wanted to try and get as close as possible to Wazza's record, but it's not the way it worked out, but I definitely remember the goals I scored."
Reflecting on his debut against Arsenal at Old Trafford, he said: "I still think to this day like I couldn't describe my feelings, just like my life pretty much just changed instantly. Like before, well, the month before those games, I could still go to the arcade at the Trafford Centre. We used to go with my friends after the cinema, we used to go to the arcade. And yeah, just little stuff like that, like the next time after that we tried to go and then it was just impossible, so."
On social media, Rashford said he has not been on it since he was 21, describing it as "more of a negative place than a positive place". He added: "But as a player, 80 per cent of it, there's no point. If you can have 20 per cent of it, and you have fun with your friends on there, then it's worth it."
Asked if he had ever been in awe of anyone he had taken to the pitch with, Rashford said he had idols including Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, but added: "I always wanted to be me but try and take pieces of them and yeah trying to implement it into my own way."
On Messi, Yamal and the Ballon d'Or
Discussing the World Cup semi-final with England, Rashford said: "The semi-final was tough, but it is what it is. First half was good. We kept obviously the most dangerous player, we kept him (quiet). I thought the midfielders especially did a brilliant job with him. And then for us it all really started to change from after we got the goal I think."
Asked about Lionel Messi and the Ballon d'Or, Rashford said: "Yeah, Messi is Messi. Like, he's a genius. Yeah, I don't know, but it's not my job to rank him in the Ballon d'Or." He added that Harry Kane deserved to win the award this year, saying: "I actually texted him the other day, and I said it's well deserved."
On Lamine Yamal, Rashford said: "I told him I've played with some talented, talented players, but he's above them all. I've never seen a player at that age be as talented as what he is. So for me, yeah, I've never said this out to the media before, but for me, he's the closest somebody can get to the level of Messi over the years." Rashford noted Yamal has finished second, third and eighth in the Ballon d'Or voting so far, and said: "At the age of what, 19? So we'll see what he does, but if he goes on to win seven Ballons d'Or, I wouldn't be surprised."
