Marcus Rashford

RUBEN AMORIM sees the departure of Andre Onana as key to his rebuild at Manchester United.

Cameroon keeper Onana is joining Turkish outfit Trabzonspor on a season-long loan.

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SunSport believes Onana’s relationship with United boss Amorim broke down irretrievably over the past month.

A source claimed: “It felt like Andre was there to just show up but wasn’t there or showing any team mentality.”

Amorim was unhappy that Onana, 29, picked up a hamstring injury at the start of pre-season training.

All the more so as he had been filmed playing on a mud patch in his homeland in June.

Onana is one of a number of stars that Amorim has let go this summer.

He has already sent  Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony packing.

And left-back Tyrell Malacia looks set to join Turkish side Eyupspor on a temporary deal.

United’s boss feels he has cleared the way for a more positive future and can kick on with preparations for Sunday’s Manchester derby.

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Onana was left out of the starting XI for the opening Premier League games against Arsenal and  Fulham.

He then put in another error-strewn display in the humiliating Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby.

It saw him dropped again for the Prem win over Burnley before United made a deadline-day £18.2million swoop for 23-year-old Belgian Senne Lammens.

And it has emerged that insiders felt Onana was showing a lack of involvement and interest in working for the team in the final days before the international break.

That included the former Ajax and Inter Milan keeper effectively refusing to even acknowledge his manager in training.

So Amorim was happy to wave through Onana’s exit, leaving him with Lammens, struggling Turk Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton, 39.

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Amorim has to decide whether to give Lammens a debut at the Etihad or stick with Bayindir for now.

Meanwhile, Onana copped more flak for the 1-0 defeat by Cape Verde on Tuesday that virtually ended Cameroon’s hopes of automatic World Cup qualification.

The keeper was at fault for Dailon Livramento’s winner, staying rooted to his line as the forward ran through on goal.

The Indomitable Lions are four points behind Cape Verde with two group games left.

MARCUS RASHFORD will NOT be heading back to Manchester United in January, according to sources close to the player.

The forward made a loan switch to the LaLiga champions in the summer window.

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Rashford, 27, was thrilled to seal his dream move but sensational reports in Spain over the weekend suggested it could turn into a nightmare.

Spanish outlet El Nacional incredibly claimed that Barcelona were already considering ending his loan deal early.

A bombshell report suggested that Nou Camp bosses were unimpressed by his start in LaLiga, after just three games.

However, this has been vehemently denied by sources close to Rashford.

It is understood that Barcelona and manager Hansi Flick are still giving the England international their full support.

Barcelona have the option to make Rashford’s move permanent for £30million.

He has made three appearances this season and is yet to score or assist.

But his minutes on the pitch have mostly been limited to substitute appearances.

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Rashford’s one start came against Levante at the Estadio Ciutat de Valencia.

Flick subbed the loanee off at half-time after Barcelona had fallen to a shock 2-0 deficit.

They came back to win the match with a stunning second-half display as Pedri and Ferran Torres scored before a late own-goal from Unai Elgezabal.

Rashford was still able to do enough to convince England manager Thomas Tuchel to call him up for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

He started in the 2-0 win against Andorra and had some impressive moments in the first half.

Tuchel insisted after the match that Rashford is putting in the effort to succeed.

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He said: “For me, he’s clearly a left winger.

“That’s where we played him today. He had the freedom to go a bit more inside to play not only against the fifth defender in the back five, but to play maybe more inside against the third.

“I think the right side was a bit more active and found the positions a bit better. So I think he suffered from that today.

“He had an excellent training week, and it was obvious that we want him to start because he trained so well on the left side.

“I can see that he tries. This is, for me, the most important, that he stays positive and he trains at the moment with the right attitude with a smile.

“He struggles a bit with numbers and with ‘wow’ performance in an England shirt.”

MARCUS RASHFORD has been given a sweet new nickname by his Barcelona team-mates – but admits he has no idea what it means.

The 27-year-old star opened about the motivation behind his season-long loan move away from Manchester United in a tell-all front page interview with Spanish newspaper Sport.

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Rashford left his boyhood club last month after being frozen out to Ruben Amorim‘s five-man ‘Bomb squad’ alongside Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia.

After finally being registered to play in LaLiga, and making his league debut from the bench in a 3-0 win over Mallorca last Saturday, Rashford now faces the difficult task that all non-Spanish speaking players encounter at Barcelona or Real Madrid – learning the language.

A willingness to pick up Spanish is often essential for getting the fans on side, which could help the club decide to activate their £26million option to buy before next summer’s World Cup in the USA.

And Rashford, who has already scored a pre-season goal, has picked up a bizarre – but comical – new nickname after trying to get to grips with Español.

The England winger told Sport: “When they’re having fun among themselves, they call me ‘sweetie’ [‘chuche’].

“I don’t know what it means, but it’s funny to be spoken to like that.

“But I’m trying to learn Spanish. I think it’s important for me to learn as soon as possible. So it’s stimulating. You’re always learning and that’s good.

“Catalan is difficult. I suppose that while I’m here, I’ll learn a little and hope it will help me understand more about Catalan culture.”

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Rashford later admitted that he escaped Old Trafford to be “happy” after being shunned from the squad in December by Amorim after a clash of personalities.

On why he left United, who he joined at the age of seven, Rashford said: “I need to be happy to play my best football. 

“For me personally, football is my life. It’s been my life since I was very, very young.

“Actually, I don’t know anything else. So the bond I have, not only with my career but with sport in general, is huge and I don’t expect it to go away. 

“But it’s always good to be happy when you play football. It’s the reason I started this.”

Rashford has endured a testing couple of years under former gaffer Erik ten Hag and more recently Amorim, who informed the forward he was no longer part of his plans at the start of the summer transfer window.

A month after arriving from Sporting, Amorim dropped Rashford for United’s 2-1 win at rivals Manchester City on December 15, citing the academy graduate’s inability to adapt to his training methods.

After a fruitful six-month loan stint at Aston Villa, Rashford openly confessed he is now “comfortable” at reigning LaLiga champions Barca as he looks to get back to his very best in front of goal.

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The South Manchester-born star has clearly bonded with his new team-mates, particularly with Lamine Yamal, the youngest Ballon d’Or front-runner, who recently turned 18.

Rashford said: “Lamine is the most talented player I’ve played with at this age. I’ve seen few with the impact he has. 

“Maybe Ronaldo, ‘the phenomenon’. He can already be a Ballon d’Or winner.”

Rashford took a salary cut to join Barca, who have agreed to cover his wages for the next year, but if Hansi Flick‘s club send him back to United in a year’s time, he could be forced to see out the remainder of his contract which expires in 2028.

I think for Man United it’s best to ship [him] out. If I was the manager I’d be a little bit similar to [Ruben] Amorim in the case of I just want team players.

I want a bunch of lads who are good, honest, hard working team players. And I don’t get that vibe from Garnacho, I don’t get that vibe from a few of the players.

You look at the full-time whistle after the Europa League game. You have Brennan Johnson doing an interview.

He looks like he hasn’t had a haircut for about three months, [hair] horrible all over the place, but his interview was incredible.

You could tell he’s a real nice lad, he’s hard working, he does everything for the team. Then you look at Garnacho. Fresh trim a day ago, dyed blonde ready for the final.

The full-time whistle goes, he’s sat on the pitch sulking by himself, not trying to get behind the other lads, picking them up, saying, ‘Well done we got this far’.

“And I think that there is the big contrast. I just want good lads, honest, hard working lads.

Ben FostertalkSPORT

Scholes says Man Utd must KEEP Hojlund

Paul Scholes has fired a rocket at Manchester United, insisting they must BACK under-fire striker Rasmus Hojlund.

Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, he said: “I’d keep Højlund.

“I know he’s not been great, but he’s a 22-year-old kid who has been asked to play centre-forward for Manchester United on his own for the last two years.

“He’s had to play every week. He’s the only one there, and he’s a 22-year-old kid.

“With the way they play, Man United should have at least three top centre-forwards, and I’d bring him into that group.

“Get [Victor] Osimhen and [Viktor] Gyokeres. Hojlund has struggled – like mad of late especially but he’s not had the chance to sit down and watch.

“If a striker is lacking confidence the manager should sit him down and say, ‘Have a look, get a bit of hunger back, a bit of feeling back for the game’.

“We all know he has centre-forward qualities — we’ve seen it. Not enough, I know that. But if he had experience around him.

“Say he had Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke around him, it would bring him on so much. He’s been absolutely flogged to death.

“People forget how young he is. A lot of it is confidence.”

MARCUS RASHFORD has emerged as a target for Inter Milan – as they look to bounce back from their Champions League final horror show. 

The Manchester United forward, 27, spent the second half of the season on loan at Aston Villa, with his red-hot form securing him a place back in the England squad.

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But Villa, who narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot for 2025-26, are unlikely to make a permanent move for Rashford due to the player’s sky-high wages.

Unai Emery and Co are now firmly focused on other targets and hope to keep hold of Ollie Watkins, who has been linked with an exit from Villa Park. 

Sources close to Rashford told SunSport he doesn’t see a future at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim. 

The pair reportedly fell out last season with the Portuguese manager unhappy with Rashford’s attitude during training and off the field.

And that means Rashford is frantically searching for a new club, which has put Inter Milan on red-alert.

The Italian giants are looking to rebuild their side in the wake of the Champions League final demolition at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

Inter were thrashed 5-0 in a defeat which came on the back of them throwing away the Serie A title late in the season, opening the door for Napoli.

Club chiefs believe that Rashford could be a key acquisition and would excite supporters.

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And although Man Utd would prefer a permanent deal, Inter are also exploring the option of a long-term loan move. 

A source said: “Marcus is open-minded to a move abroad, and a fresh start.

“Lots of players have made the move from the Premier League to Serie A in recent years and performed very well. That’s why the idea of such a switch excites both the player and Inter.”

Rashford is one of a number of players in limbo at United.

Team-mates Jadon Sancho and Antony both ended the campaign on loan at other clubs and are deemed surplus to requirements.

But United face a challenge in offloading all of them due to their massive wages.

LEON BAILEY is expected to seal a life-changing £25 million move to Saudi Arabia this week.

The Aston Villa forward is the subject of an offer believed to be from league newcomers Neom.

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His agents have already held initial discussions with the Pro League club.

Jamaican international Bailey, 27, is set to earn up to £10 million a year, tax-free.

He was a key member of the Villa squad that qualified for the Champions League last season but has since fallen out of favour.

The emergence of Morgan Rogers and the arrival of Marcus Rashford, combined with a series of niggling injuries, frustrated Bailey throughout the past campaign.

Bailey’s imminent departure adds to mounting speculation that Emi Martinez could also leave the club this summer.

The Argentine World Cup winner was left in tears after Villa’s final home game of the season, further fuelling rumours that it may have been his last appearance at Villa Park.

When asked about the futures of both Bailey and Martinez ahead of the final game of the season, Villa boss Unai Emery said: “Now we are focused on the matches we are playing.

“It is the last match here I don’t know, we will see. We will see about the team and the players.

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“How they respond and how focused they are on how we prepare for games.”

Villa are set for a big summer having already said goodbye to winger Marcus Rashford, who arrived from Manchester United late last season and made a significant impact.

The 27-year-old had been sidelined by United manager Ruben Amorim but was a breath of fresh air as Villa narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot.

Sunsport understands Rashford has not entirely ruled out a return to Villa Park.

However, interest from clubs abroad has made negotiations delicate at this stage.

Martinez, 32, fuelled speculation when he broke down in tears and  took a bow in front of the Holte End after Villa’s final home game of the season.

Some feared it was a farewell and since then he was  linked with a  lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League.

Man United, Arsenal, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also rumoured to be keen.

Martinez’s contract runs until 2029 but a bid of £40million or more would ease Villa’s PSR concerns.

Ruben Amorim future

Ruben Amorim plunged his own Manchester United future into doubt after the latest Old Trafford debacle.

The Portuguese manager’s admission that he is struggling to find a solution for his team’s shocking season was a clear sign of the uncertainty at the heart of the club.

But the bigger question marks will only be resolved in Bilbao next week. A Europa League Final win for United over Tottenham will mean far more than just the trophy and a silver sheen to cleanse many of the black clouds of despair.

But defeat in the Basque country will have ramifications to last far beyond the summer. In simple terms, it is about cold, hard cash. The reality is that winning the Europa League will ensure a looming black hole is filled.

If United do not triumph in San Mames, the immediate cost will be clear. A £10million cut in sponsorship revenue, as part of the contract with kit suppliers adidas.

No European football at all, meaning they will miss out on around £49m up front through Uefa’s complicated revenue distribution system plus the £20m-plus in gate receipts from the minimum four home games.

And if, as now seems likely, they do finish 16th in the Prem table, that will mean £23.8m less in TV-related prize money than for last term’s eight-placed finish.

That all adds up to more than £100m, before the prize money for progress through the Champions League – up to a further potential £95m or so – is taken into account. Less income equals less money to spend.