'He's lost his hunger' - Roy Keane delivers brutal verdict on Marcus Rashford and sends strong warning to Man Utd star amid exit talk

Rashford has fuelled speculation about his future after admitting he is ready for a “new challenge" as the 27-year-old striker suggested his departure from Old Trafford is more a matter of 'when' than 'if.' The comments came shortly after Rashford was left out of United’s squad for the Manchester derby by new manager Ruben Amorim.

Rashford’s on-field performances have waned recently, a stark contrast to his earlier days when he exploded onto the scene as an 18-year-old. This season, however, he has only netted four goals and provided a single assist in 15 Premier League matches and United's overall struggles, languishing in the lower half of the table, have mirrored his personal dip in form.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane didn’t hold back when discussing Rashford’s remarks about his future.

"I don’t actually mind what he said, although it’s a bit long, but it’s spot on," the former United skipper said.

"Sometimes a deal just works for everybody - it’s been going on for a year or two now. There’s obviously a bit of talent there and he’s been at the club since he was a kid. A change would probably do him a world of good, for him and his team and family to go abroad. My only warning for players like that – he [Marcus Rashford] has all those traits as a footballer. If you lose that hunger, it’s hard to get it back. We know that for great players, it’s nothing to do with money - it’s about the next challenge and your pride."

Keane further speculated that Rashford's off-field distractions might be affecting his game.

"Marcus seems to have lost his way, and he’s lost his hunger," continued Keane. "We’ve mentioned watches and all the stuff off the field, and if he’s a bit distracted by that, it might be hard to get it back. He might get it back with a change of club and scenery, but I don’t think he’ll get the hunger back at United."

Having been with Manchester United for two decades, Rashford's potential exit could mark the end of an era for a player who once embodied the promise of United's youth system. The situation took another turn on Monday when Rashford was sent home sick from training and left out of the squad for United’s Carabao Cup match against Tottenham.