Marcus Rashford must alter his body language and show that he has the “hunger” to play for Manchester United, Wayne Rooney has said.
Rashford is back at United following the conclusion of his loan move to Barcelona last season. He made his first appearance for the Red Devils in almost two years when he came on as a substitute in the 60th minute of United’s preseason defeat to Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan last weekend.
He was frozen out of United by Amorim in December 2024, joined Villa on loan in January 2025 and then spent last season on loan at the Spanish champions — who did not exercise their right to turn the loan spell into a permanent move.
Michael Carrick is now the United head coach and he has spoken about Rashford positively, and has said that “he gives [the team] something a little bit different.”
On Stick to United — a new show hosted by United record goalscorer Wayne Rooney and football content creator Mark Goldbridge on Disney+ — Rooney said that he wants to see Rashford play succeed at United but called for the England international to improve his body language.
“It’s such a strange one with Marcus. We know he’s got the ability, he’s shown that, but has he got the hunger? Does he want to play for Manchester United?” he said.
“I’ve been there, in 2010, when I asked to leave the football club. Then I stayed. You have to rebuild the relationship with the fans and the easiest way to do that is work hard and work on your body language.
“You could have a bad game, you could give the ball away and make mistakes, but if the fans see you working hard and putting in a shift for the team, they’ll accept that to a certain point. I think Marcus’ body language, even when he came on, it isn’t great. He might have to work with someone to make his body language look better.
“I think his work rate has to improve,” Rooney continued. “If he wants to be at the football club, he just has to knuckle down […] He’s the one player that could go and get my goalscoring record.
“I don’t want to see Marcus Rashford doing well at Aston Villa or doing well at Barcelona. I want to see him doing well at Man United and scoring goals for Man United. But that means he has to get his head down and work his socks off. Be more positive. Play with a smile on his face.”
Rashford registered 14 goals and 14 assists in 49 appearances for Barça and also featured for England at the World Cup, in which they reached the semifinals.
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“If he [Rashford] is back playing for United and he wants to be here, I think he has to have a real close look at who’s around him. Only he can say who those people are around him who he really trusts. Keep them close to him, go into training and work hard, get himself right. If he does that, he’ll be fine,” Rooney continued.
“He has to change his body language, whether he likes it or not, to get fans back onside,” he added. “It’s on him and no one else. He has take responsibility if he’s here because, if not, the fans will turn very quickly.”
When asked by Goldbridge if Rashford being back at United might work out, Rooney said he’s “hoping” but isn’t convinced.
“Marcus is still in his twenties, he’s still physically in top condition. Whatever’s happened, whatever concerns or distractions he had that stopped him from playing a top player for Man United, he has to somehow find a way to get rid of them.”
