Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made a surprising admission about his ongoing communication with Marcus Rashford, while confessing he remains baffled by the forward's dramatic decline at Old Trafford.
The Norwegian legend, who managed Rashford during his most productive period at United, revealed they still exchange text messages despite not having spoken in person since Solskjaer's departure from the club in November 2021.
The Barcelona Revival
Since his January loan move to Barcelona, Rashford has experienced a remarkable career resurgence that contrasts sharply with his final months at Manchester United. The 28-year-old England international has immediately impressed in La Liga, earning himself a recall to the Three Lions squad.
Barcelona now holds the option to make Rashford's move permanent this summer, with all signs pointing towards a potential full-time departure from Manchester. This represents Rashford's second loan spell away from United, following an earlier stint with Aston Villa.
Solskjaer's Bafflement
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Solskjaer expressed genuine confusion about what went wrong for Rashford at United. "I've not spoken to Marcus since I've left, I text him a little bit but circumstances," Solskjaer revealed.
"I don't know what's happened in his life but you can see he's certainly enjoying it now in Barcelona. It looked like he didn't enjoy himself here."
The former manager drew compelling parallels between Rashford and Erling Haaland, noting that the United academy product now displays the same energy and enthusiasm that was noticeably absent during his final Old Trafford days.
Statistical Contrast
The numbers highlight Rashford's dramatically different fortunes under various managers. During Solskjaer's reign, Rashford made 135 appearances, scoring 55 goals and providing 36 assists - making this his most productive period at the club.
This output significantly outstripped his contributions under subsequent managers. Under Erik ten Hag, Rashford scored 42 goals in 113 games, while during Jose Mourinho's tenure he managed 28 goals across 125 appearances.
Solskjaer suggested the pressures of modern football might have contributed to Rashford's struggles. "All the pressures, every single one is different," he explained. "We don't know what's happened to the players when they walk in in the morning grumpy."
He emphasized that Rashford remains "an incredible player when he's in form and happy" but acknowledged that finding the right balance between football and life outside the game proved challenging for the forward at United.
