Manchester United’s latest academy superstar Marcus Rashford has revealed that he was inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at the club.
All of 18, Marcus Rashford has been able to capture the imagination of the United faithful along with the English fans. The youngster’s rise has been mercurial as he has catapulted from being an U18 player to being a first-team regular at Old Trafford in less than a year.
The last time a youngster caused this much hysteria around the club, it was a young Portuguese winger who had just arrived from Sporting CP; a player called Cristiano Ronaldo who has now reached unwavering heights in the footballing world.
Marcus Rashford was only 11 when Ronaldo left Manchester United for a then-world record fee to join Real Madrid and the 18-year-old Mancunian revealed in an exclusive interview to Inside United that in the little time he saw Ronaldo, the Portuguese’s attitude, dedication and hunger to be the best in the world instilled inspiration in the young striker.
He said,“ When Cristiano Ronaldo came to United, he was the one who everyone looked up to. The thing that impressed me the most was the fact he was only young when he came into the side and he wanted to be the best player in the side. He worked hard every single day, you saw him in the gym every single day.”
There seems to be a lot of similarities in both situations as Marcus Rashford came into the side and has quickly gone on to become one of the best performing players for the club in the recent past while also earning praise from Jose Mourinho for his attitude in the Manchester derby after being brought on by the Portuguese manager at half time.
Rashford was asked in the interview for Inside United as to what he thought of Ronaldo’s supposed single-mindedness that has seen the forward receive much flak and the English international gave, perhaps, the most fitting reply.
He said, “You have to have an approach like that – all the best players in the world do. He openly wanted to be the best player in the world. It’s not arrogance or anything like that, it’s the mindset you need to achieve things.”
Like all other things the teenager has done so far, his words in the interview also seem to strike the right chords. One just cannot help but be mesmerised by the striker’s cool head and professionalism at such a young age as Marcus Rashford looks destined to have his name etched in the Red Devils’ history just like the man who inspired him has managed to achieve during his time at Old Trafford.
