Ruben Amorim on Marcus Rashford’s future, Casemiro’s lack of game time and Bruno Fernandes’ importance | OneFootball

Ruben Amorim has once again shut down any talk of Marcus Rashford’s future at Manchester United, insisting he does not know if the forward will be at the club when the transfer window closes.

The 27-year-old has not featured for Amorim in recent weeks after revealing his desire to seek a ‘”new challenge” and has been linked with possible moves to AC Milan, Tottenham, PSG and Barcelona.

However, with over a week until the transfer window closes, Rashford’s future is still in limbo.

Speaking ahead of his side’s Premier League match against Fulham, Amorim insisted he could not confirm either way if Rashford would stay. “I don’t know,” he said. “I really don’t know.”

When pressed if the academy graduate would be reintegrated into the side if he did not move away, Amorim quickly replied, “Guys, it’s eight days. We’ll see what happens at the end of the transfer window and we’ll talk about that at that moment.”

Casemiro out of favour?

Another player who has seen his game time limited since the Portuguese’s arrival is Casemiro.

The Brazillian has been unused in 10 of the last 13 matches, and Amorim explained the 32-year-old’s characteristics may not suit the style of play.

“It has to be the characteristics and then I have to choose the player with characteristics that I see in the game, so it’s just that,” he said.

“I have to make some choices. I want to play a style of game that is sometimes different from other coaches and I have to choose [players] based on that. That’s all.”

Lucky to have Fernandes

Amorim did reserve special praise for his captain, Bruno Fernandes, however, who he said United were “lucky” to have at their disposal, whilst also acknowledging his visible frustrations on the pitch.

“He’s a top player,” Amorim said. “People talk a lot about his frustration and with his arms always in the air. Sometimes it’s not a good thing to see, but you have to see the other side. When you are under pressure he is always the guy who wants the ball. He’s always available and that is so important, especially in the Premier League.

“You have two sides and I have to help him to manage both situations but we are lucky to have a player like Bruno Fernandes. Sometimes he makes mistakes, like me last week, but he’s really important and he has passion. This is so important to be a football player.”