Marcus Rashford's tears and Ruben Amorim rejection as his Man United exit nears

A departure from Manchester United seems increasingly likely for Marcus Rashford in the January transfer window.

His comments about being "ready for a new challenge" in a December interview set off a chain of events that could have major consequences. But the truth is there were signs a long time ago that his potentially impending exit from Ruben Amorim's squad was a possibility.

Rashford's departure from the club he joined 20 years ago will undoubtedly be an emotional one. His United career has been a rollercoaster journey, including disciplinary issues and manager disagreements that have led him to this point.

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Concerns have been raised about Rashford's priorities and commitment to the club for more than 12 months. The homegrown talent has experienced many highs and lows since bursting onto the scene as a teenager - but there's no question the darkest depths of his United tenure were reached over the past year or so.

Rashford was visibly moved by United's FA Cup victory over Manchester City last season, given his lifelong ties to the club. Despite a drop in form following a record-breaking 30 goals the previous campaign, he opened up on social media and posted a heartfelt photo of himself tearfully celebrating with fans, and the caption read: "People want to know what Man United means to me!"

Having been part of the United fraternity since the age of seven, it's understandable their underdog win over City conjured such feelings for the forward. And it also served to illustrate his desire to see the club