Harry Maguire has revealed he is hopeful Marcus Rashford will stay at Manchester United as uncertainty around his future continues.
Rashford has not played competitively for the Red Devils in more than 600 days after being exiled under former manager Ruben Amorim, and has enjoyed loan spells at both Aston Villa and Barcelona.
The Spanish giants, however, opted not to make his signing permanent, and he is now back at United with it still unclear where he will be playing come the end of the transfer window.
Maguire, though, hopes it will be in Manchester.
‘He’s a huge threat, he’s a huge threat to have in your team,’ Maguire said after United’s 4-2 defeat by AC Milan in pre-season. ‘So if he’s going to stay with us, obviously the transfer window is still open, but we hope as players that he stays and he’s a big asset to have.
‘I’ve played with Marcus for numerous years and I know that playing against him and with him in training is going to help us.
Harry Maguire (right) has revealed his hope that Marcus Rashford (left) will stay at Manchester United this season
Maguire also praised former manager Ruben Amorim, who is now in charge of the Italian side
‘He can improve us. When you see when he comes on, he threatens the back line really well. He could have even scored for us today.’
United manager Michael Carrick has also suggested the England forward could stay at the club.
He said before the AC Milan game: ‘He’s our player. He’s come back great. He’s just like any other player… He gives us something a little bit different.’
Rashford came off the bench in the second-half against Milan, playing the last half-hour.
United’s final pre-season game saw them come up against former manager Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese having the last laugh following his sacking last season.
Maguire, though, insisted there are no hard feelings.
‘It’s great to see him,’ Maguire said. ‘Great to see him and all his staff. I’m happy that they’re in another job and another chance to impress and to show everyone what a great manager he is.
‘So I have nothing bad to say about Ruben. I got on with Ruben really, really well and all his staff. I’m sure he’s going to be a success, it just didn’t work out at Manchester United.
It remains unclear where Rashford will be playing come the end of the transfer window
‘But when you’re a manager and you put yourself in that firing seat, there’s going to be disappointments and he’ll be disappointed it didn’t.
‘But he’s got a massive club now in AC Milan and myself, I wish him and all his staff the very best. I’ll be following them and I hope they have an amazing season.’
