Jadon Sancho appears to have come to the defense of his former Manchester United teammate Marcus Rashford amid growing speculation about Rashford’s future at the club.
Sancho, 24, currently on loan at Chelsea after a tumultuous spell with United, spent the latter half of the 2023/24 season at Borussia Dortmund following a fallout with then-United manager Erik ten Hag.
Rashford, now 27, has faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly after being omitted from United’s squad for their 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last Sunday. The forward fueled speculation further when he told journalist Henry Winter that he was “ready for a new challenge.” He was also left out of Ruben Amorim’s squad for Thursday’s 4-3 Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
On Friday, ESPN shared a graphic featuring Ian Wright’s defense of Rashford, where the Arsenal legend called out critics eager to write off the forward.
“I got to Arsenal at 28, but you expect ME to write off someone with the ability Marcus [Rashford] has at 27!” Wright remarked in a video posted to The Overlap’s Instagram page. “So many of you are desperate to see these young people fail so that you can say you were right!”
Sancho commented on the post, responding with a ‘speaking’ emoji and a ‘100’ emoji, signaling his agreement with Wright’s stance.
In the latest episode of The Overlap, Wright again stood up for Rashford when Gary Neville asked if the United star could improve Arsenal’s attacking options.
“I think he has that capability,” Wright replied. “Twenty-seven is not an age to write someone off. He has the capability. I think in a different dressing room, with a different environment, he could thrive.”
Amidst the mounting speculation, Rashford has been linked to several clubs, including Al-Ittihad, who reportedly showed interest earlier this week. However, Paris Saint-Germain has emerged as the frontrunner to secure his signature.
Reports suggest a potential swap deal involving PSG’s out-of-favor forward Randal Kolo Muani or left-back Nuno Mendes. Rashford’s current contract with United runs until the summer of 2028, leaving plenty of room for negotiation in any transfer.
For now, Rashford’s future remains uncertain, but the support of figures like Sancho and Wright highlights the belief in his potential to overcome this challenging chapter.