Troy Deeney: Marcus Rashford could be done with football before 30 and I want to help him

Troy Deeney has warned Marcus Rashford that he could regret not giving his all for Manchester United when he retires. The forward has come under pressure following his prolonged struggles at Old Trafford.  Rashford has cut a frustrated figure at Man United in recent years Despite scoring in Amorim’s first game against Ipswich and then bagging a brace against Everton, Rashford was benched for the following 2-0 loss to Arsenal. He then came on as a substitute in the 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest for Alejandro Garnacho on the hour mark. Rashford has scored four times and grabbed one assist in 15 league games this season, but ex-Watford captain Deeney has been deeply unimpressed with the England star’s attitude in recent weeks. Speaking earlier this week, he accused Rashford of acting like a ‘baby’ after during the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal. Now, doubling down on those comments, Deeney believes the 27-year-old could be forced to quit football before he turns 30. Speaking on talkSPORT’s Weekend Breakfast, Deeney said: “He’s 27-years old, he’s meant to be at the peak of his powers. “All his finances are taken care of. All he needs to do is work hard and enjoy your football.  “It’s a great job and I sit here genuinely a fan of Marcus and say, ‘Come on mate, come to the party’. “Because if not, unfortunately in two years, he’ll be out of the game. “And I know that’s a strong statement, but where does he go from here? Where’s he going to allow himself to go?” Rashford fired the Red Devils into the lead at Portman Road after just 81 secondsGetty Criticism is not new to Rashford, who burst onto the scene as an electrifying teenager for the Red Devils in 2015 but has struggled to meet expectations since. Most recently he was under fire for attending an NBA game in America on international break ahead of Ruben Amorim’s arrival. Deeney continued: “I’ve known him for years, but let’s be totally honest, after reading this he probably won’t want to speak to me. I genuinely want to help him. “When this is all said and done – I’m 36 now – do you really want to be sat in your big house with your Mrs and your kids going, ‘I used to be…’    “I would love to be the first person in six months’ time, Marcus Rashford has scored 20 goals, and go, ‘By the way guys, I got that absolutely wrong, I’m sorry’.  “But I look at Marcus and my genuine concern is that when this is all said and done… we’re both retired Cass,” he added, speaking to talkSPORT host and ex-Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino. “And we can look back at our careers and go, wow, we squeezed all of the effort and maximum out of it and we can be comfortable – my worry for Marcus is he won’t be able to do that. “Most of the lads who struggle are the ones who go, ‘I just wish if only I could’, they have all this regret and then they struggle in life afterwards.” Under Amorim’s new system Rashford will hope he can return to top goalscoring form, similarly to Erik ten Hag’s first season as head coach. During the 2022/23 campaign, he netted 30 goals and assisted ten times to earn Man United’s Player of the Season award.

Dec 14, 2024 - 11:02
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Troy Deeney: Marcus Rashford could be done with football before 30 and I want to help him

Troy Deeney has warned Marcus Rashford that he could regret not giving his all for Manchester United when he retires.

The forward has come under pressure following his prolonged struggles at Old Trafford. 

Rashford has cut a frustrated figure at Man United in recent years

Despite scoring in Amorim’s first game against Ipswich and then bagging a brace against Everton, Rashford was benched for the following 2-0 loss to Arsenal.

He then came on as a substitute in the 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest for Alejandro Garnacho on the hour mark.

Rashford has scored four times and grabbed one assist in 15 league games this season, but ex-Watford captain Deeney has been deeply unimpressed with the England star’s attitude in recent weeks.

Speaking earlier this week, he accused Rashford of acting like a ‘baby’ after during the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal.

Now, doubling down on those comments, Deeney believes the 27-year-old could be forced to quit football before he turns 30.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Weekend Breakfast, Deeney said: “He’s 27-years old, he’s meant to be at the peak of his powers.

“All his finances are taken care of. All he needs to do is work hard and enjoy your football. 

“It’s a great job and I sit here genuinely a fan of Marcus and say, ‘Come on mate, come to the party’.

“Because if not, unfortunately in two years, he’ll be out of the game.

“And I know that’s a strong statement, but where does he go from here? Where’s he going to allow himself to go?”

Rashford fired the Red Devils into the lead at Portman Road after just 81 seconds
Getty

Criticism is not new to Rashford, who burst onto the scene as an electrifying teenager for the Red Devils in 2015 but has struggled to meet expectations since.

Most recently he was under fire for attending an NBA game in America on international break ahead of Ruben Amorim’s arrival.

Deeney continued: “I’ve known him for years, but let’s be totally honest, after reading this he probably won’t want to speak to me. I genuinely want to help him.

“When this is all said and done – I’m 36 now – do you really want to be sat in your big house with your Mrs and your kids going, ‘I used to be…’   

“I would love to be the first person in six months’ time, Marcus Rashford has scored 20 goals, and go, ‘By the way guys, I got that absolutely wrong, I’m sorry’. 

“But I look at Marcus and my genuine concern is that when this is all said and done… we’re both retired Cass,” he added, speaking to talkSPORT host and ex-Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino.

“And we can look back at our careers and go, wow, we squeezed all of the effort and maximum out of it and we can be comfortable – my worry for Marcus is he won’t be able to do that.

“Most of the lads who struggle are the ones who go, ‘I just wish if only I could’, they have all this regret and then they struggle in life afterwards.”

Under Amorim’s new system Rashford will hope he can return to top goalscoring form, similarly to Erik ten Hag’s first season as head coach.

During the 2022/23 campaign, he netted 30 goals and assisted ten times to earn Man United’s Player of the Season award.