Giuseppe Rossi: Everton Could Relaunch Marcus Rashford’s Career

Giuseppe Rossi believes Everton could be the club to relaunch Marcus Rashford’s career – and that his Manchester United story is effectively over.

The former United and Villarreal forward, who rebuilt his own career after leaving Old Trafford, sees Rashford at a crossroads after his loan spell at Barcelona and return to a United side still trying to redefine itself.

Rossi, who burst through at United in 2004 after signing from Parma and scored four goals in 14 games before heading to Spain, knows what it means to leave the comfort of Old Trafford and find a new footballing identity. In Spain he became Villarreal’s all-time leading scorer during a six-year stay interrupted by two ACL injuries, before later spells at Fiorentina and Levante. He hung up his boots in 2023 at 36 and moved into punditry.

Now, speaking to Bet Brothers, he has turned his attention to Rashford, 28, whose future remains unclear.

“Marcus Rashford needs to go to another club for his own sake. I think his time as a Manchester United player has run its course,” Rossi said.

He admitted surprise that Barcelona did not try to keep the forward after last season’s loan, adding: “It’s very interesting that Barcelona didn’t keep him because I thought he was a pretty good player for them, and a good fit for how they play in the end.”

Rossi’s view is blunt. “I don’t think he feels like a Manchester United player anymore, he doesn’t have that mentality, and you don’t want those sorts of players around your club, bringing down what you’re trying to build. It would be the best thing for everyone if they could all move on quickly this summer.”

Talk has already swirled around big-name wide players at Everton. CEO Angus Kinnear confirmed this week the club are still monitoring Jack Grealish’s situation after his loan on Merseyside last season, even though the Manchester City midfielder featured in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal at the weekend.

Rossi, though, sees another route for David Moyes as he looks for attacking thrust down the left at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He floated the idea of Rashford following Scott McTominay’s path and reviving his career in Italy, but quickly cooled on it. “Could Rashford go and reinvent himself in Italy as Scott McTominay has? It’s an interesting idea but I don’t see him thriving in Serie A. The league is too tactical. I think Rashford still fits the English way of playing best, although truthfully he did well at Barcelona.”

For Rossi, the answer lies closer to home.

“He needs a move to another Premier League club this summer, and it would be cool to see him at a side like Tottenham Hotspur or Everton,” he said. “He needs a club where he’ll be given the chance to feel free to play his way and bring the team back some glory. He would do well in that sort of environment.”

Everton want a statement option on the left. Rashford needs a stage and a reset. Whether those two needs collide before the window closes could shape not just his next chapter, but the ambition of Moyes’ new era on Merseyside.