What people of Wythenshawe think of under-fire Rashford

Rarely does this transfer window reveal a potential departure for Marcus Rashford.

Rashford acknowledged that the biggest period of struggle in his career was ahead of him after falling out with Ruben Amorim’s new coach.

One thing is certain, though, while where he is playing football in the second half of this season is still in doubt: the area in which he was raised has been giving him unwavering support.

The 27-year-old is regarded as a model for the people of Wythenshawe and Withington in south Manchester.

“Rashford lived in Button Lane when I was a child. If he leaves, I believe he is brilliant and that will be one of the biggest heartaches I’ve ever experienced as a United fan.

Brandon Gittins, a native of Wythenshawe who has benefited from Rashford’s impact off the field and celebrated his brilliance on the pitch, is saying that.

“Me and my mates got them. I remember thinking ‘ my mum’s going to be buzzing! ‘ After school, I went straight to Tesco to prepare dinner.

” He’s a massive part of our community. Although I had heard about his work, I didn’t actually believe I would experience the effects, so being on the receiving end of it was fantastic.

The forward, who has scored 17 times in 60 caps for England, was awarded a MBE for his efforts.

A busy side road that flows into the heart of Withington is just around the corner from the mural. Among them stands the ‘ Mega Pound Store’, its entrance lined with an assortment of footballs.

Rashford reflected on how his family once relied on places like this on BBC Breakfast in 2020.

He said:” I remember we used to go to a shop called Poundworld, we would schedule out the week.

You can have one yoghurt per day, according to the company’s plan. My mum did the best she could within the circumstances”.

The people in the area are deeply moved by Rashford’s connection to his roots and the values he instilled during those trying times.

“He is all about the community, he’s loved here. He represents a better world than football, according to United fan and Withington resident Nusaybah Rwifa.

There are conflicting views though. While some people have a fondness for their hometown hero, some also sense that his time at Old Trafford has come to an end.

A local postman, Mal, jumps in his van that is parked directly behind where we are filming on the corner of the street during one of our interviews and yells, “He needs to go!” He’s just not good enough”!

It’s a sentiment echoed by a few others across the neighbourhood. Many people recall the young academy graduate’s unstoppable rise that made his United, Premier League, and England debuts, but those accomplishments seem far removed from the difficulties of the current season.

With just seven goals and three assists overall, Rashford has received more and more negative reviews as the season progresses.

Although acknowledging that his recent form has not lived up to expectations, Wythenshawe has admiration for what he stands for.

“He’s a great person and people from here don’t usually become that successful, but it’s time for him to leave now”, said Oliver Noble, who we met outside a barber shop on Button Lane.

A large patch of grass and a row of terraced houses surround us, with the forward’s childhood home in the middle.

He doesn’t work hard enough, and he’s not putting the performances on the field. There are clear reasons why the manager has left him out of the team, so it’s not a Ruben Amorim issue, it’s Marcus Rashford’s issue”, he adds.

The child in the image is an 11-year-old Rashford, waiting for a lift to the Manchester United academy, which he joined in 2005.

That 11-year-old grew up to be one of United and England’s most recognisable talents, but Rashford’s career statistics paint a complicated picture of his time at Old Trafford.

He has played under six permanent managers, scoring 138 goals in 426 appearances.

He has won two League Cups, two FA Cups, and one Europa League title.

Rashford has only managed to score 10 Premier League goals in three of those 11 seasons because United has generally struggled to compete with the nation’s top teams.

However, his connection to Manchester United endures as he looks likely to wrap up the chapter of his career there, perhaps with a sense of unfulfillment.