Revealed: Why Marcus Rashford snubbed Man Utd icons Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney as part of bold future prediction at Old Trafford

Back when the current England international was just 11 years old, he had the opportunity to rub shoulders with senior stars that would go on to become a five-time winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or and the Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer. Rashford, who had turned down “life-changing” money in order to remain part of United’s academy system, shunned both as he believed that he would one day be playing alongside them.

Rashford has said in The Players’ Tribune: “When I was about ten or 11 years old, I was getting a lot of attention, and we had all kinds of agents and clubs trying to pass things to the family. United still hadn’t signed me to a scholarship, and people were offering all kinds of things. A few clubs offered us life-changing money. We’ll buy the family a home, we’ll put cars in your garage. We’ll change your family’s life. At the time, my mum was working as a cashier at Ladbrokes. My brother was working for AA. They had every right to tell me, 'Just take the deal.' But they knew my dream was to play for United, so they never ever pressured me. I don’t know how many people know this, but I actually played two academy games for that one club to see how I liked it. I remember walking out of the dressing room and seeing my mum and my brothers, and they just asked me, 'What do you want to do? Stay or go?' I said, 'I want to go back to United.'"

Rashford added: “Money is great. It’s a blessing. But dreams are priceless. For me, even at 11 years old, playing for United was my only goal. I remember around that time, when I was still trying to get signed, Wazza and Cristiano came by to do something with all the academy lads, and I was just looking at them in awe, you know what I mean? They had a photographer there, and at the end all us kids had a chance to get a picture with them, and I remember hanging in the back away from everyone. I remember my brother saying, 'Go take a picture with Wazza, bro! What are you doing???' I said, 'I don’t need a picture.' He said, 'Don’t need a picture???' I said, 'I’m going to be playing alongside them some day.' I think I was the only kid who didn’t get a photo. After we had turned down the money, there was just this hunger inside me. I didn’t see myself as a kid anymore. I had to grab my opportunity and change our lives, period. To be able to go on and really live that dream, as a kid from Manchester… As a kid from Hulme, Moss Side, Chorlton, Withington, Wythenshawe… If you think I would ever take that for granted, then you simply do not know me.”

Rashford went on to make his senior debut for United in February 2016, at the age of 17. He is now closing in on 400 appearances for the Red Devils, with 128 goals recorded along the way, and has delivered on his 11-year-old promise – with games taken in as a team-mate of both Rooney and Ronaldo.