Marcus Rashford's positive return to Manchester United has left Nicky Butt eating his words after previously claiming the winger was done at Old Trafford. The 28-year-old is back in the fold under Michael Carrick after two consecutive loans to Aston Villa and Barcelona.
The forward has featured in United's opening three Premier League games and started their last two fixtures. Rashford's return to his boyhood club has dispelled Butt's remarks, who also claimed bigger players had left the Red Devils following his departure to Spain last season.
Butt's Earlier Comments
The United icon, 51, told the MEN: "Yeah, I think that ship's sailed. I think over the last two or three seasons he's shown that he needs to move football clubs, and I think that comes. A lot of things have been said about certain behaviours and whatever he's been doing, but not everyone's built to stay at a football club all their lives."
"It's very few and far between, one-club players within the whole of the Premier League, and it gets on my nerves a little bit. Everyone goes, 'Oh, he wants to leave Man United,' well Man United haven't been performing great. Man United are not winning anything at the minute, they're slipping down the tables of the biggest clubs in the world."
Butt paid tribute to Rashford's legacy at Old Trafford, but insisted United would move on from the England star.
Butt's Tribute and Prediction
"My history loves the football club, but nobody has to stay at a football club forever. And yeah, he didn't behave right at certain times, Marcus, we all get that, but he's a phenomenal footballer, and I think he went to Villa, did well, and I think he's now joined a massive football club in Barcelona, and I think it'll work out for him."
"Man United's part of his history, he'll always love the football club, he's been there since he was seven years of age, I know his family love the football club as well, but life moves on. Big players leave football clubs. Bigger players than Marcus have left Man United, and bigger players will leave the football club in the future as well, and hopefully he'll put Barcelona into Marcus Rashford's history as well, with the shining light on it, and he'll look back on what a great move it's been."
Schmeichel's Praise
Rashford has yet to register a goal or assist this season, but earned plaudits from Peter Schmeichel for his performance in United's 2-2 draw against Everton last Sunday. The constant danger he put the Toffees' backline in through his directness on the left flank saw the legendary goalkeeper wax lyrical about him.
The 62-year-old said: "Coming away from that game, Rashford is now smelling of roses. I thought he was absolutely fantastic. During the week there was a newspaper article showing that he had got himself a new tattoo. He's got a tattoo with all the shirt numbers he's had and he's added the No.9 [his new Man Utd shirt number] to it."
"It just shows that there's some intent now for Marcus to go back to what he was for Manchester United four years ago when he scored 30 goals in one season." Schmeichel detailed the various ways Rashford attempted to impact the game, as he explained: "He was playing like this. Seeing his teammates, putting them in, getting the ball into good positions, stepping up, getting the ball into the box. He wasn't trying to do everything himself; trying to be dangerous. That is the Marcus Rashford we all want to see and if that's what we get for this season, welcome back, Marcus – we have missed you."
