- Marcus Rashford has been excluded from Man United’s last three match squads
- Manchester United’s chiefs will not put pressure on Amorim to play the striker
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Manchester United won’t put head coach Ruben Amorim under any pressure to pick Marcus Rashford or continue leaving out the unsettled star.
Rashford has been absent from United’s squad for the last three games after the player responded to being dropped for the Manchester derby by saying he wants a new challenge in his career.
Amorim has left the door open for Rashford to return at Wolves on Boxing Day, but given no guarantees that he will be brought in from the cold.
It’s understood that the United hierarchy are refusing to get involved in the situation, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, director Sir Dave Brailsford, chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox leaving Amorim to make the decision on team selection.
In theory, it makes little sense to have a player who earns £315,000-a-week sat on the sidelines – particularly if United want to get the best price for Rashford in the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old was valued at £100million after scoring 30 goals in Erik ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford, but that figure is believed to have halved.
Ruben Amorim is not under pressure to play Marcus Rashford despite his exile from the Manchester United squad risking a drop in his price tag
Amorim has excluded the striker, 27, from his last three matchday squads – including the derby
Ineos refuse to get involved with the situation and are happy to leave Amorim to pick his team
They faced a similar dilemma with Jadon Sancho this time last year after the player fell out with Ten Hag and spent four months training on his own before rejoining Borussia Dortmund on loan.
Amorim has made a stand on the Rashford issue after growing unhappy with his attitude and performance in training since succeeding Ten Hag in November.
While Alejandro Garnacho was dropped for the derby for similar reasons, the Argentina winger has played off the bench in the last two games while Rashford has remained isolated.
After naming his squad for Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth, Amorim said: ‘It’s my decision and it always will be. It is selection. I want to see the best of my players and I try different things with different players. That’s my focus.’
Asked if Rashford could return at Wolves on Boxing Day, Amorim replied: ‘It depends. We will see.’
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