“He forgets” – Patrice Evra gives Marcus Rashford a friendly warning after his surprising Man United comeback
Patrice Evra has shared some friendly advice with Marcus Rashford on what he needs to do to succeed when he returns to Manchester United.
Rashford was left out of the team at Old Trafford in December 2024 by Ruben Amorim and went on loan to Aston Villa. He then had a short spell at Barcelona, where he scored 14 goals and made 14 assists, helping the team win La Liga. Even though he did well there, Barcelona decided not to sign him permanently and chose his England teammate Anthony Gordon instead.
Unlike before, Rashford has been warmly welcomed back by Michael Carrick, who has included him in pre-season training. Rashford might even stay with United for the new season. According to Mike Keegan from the Daily Mail, Rashford has impressed club officials with how professional he’s been since returning. Another report from The Sun says Rashford is happy to let Matheus Cunha keep the No.10 shirt that he once had.
Evra, who played 379 times for United, gave Rashford some great advice on moving forward. Talking to SPORTbible, he told Rashford to forget the past and start fresh at his hometown club. Evra said, “I don’t know if there’s a curse when you come back to your club, but that’s not the case with Marcus. People weren’t happy when he left, but it depends on how he approaches his return. If Marcus forgets he’s an academy player and just focuses on his game, he can do great.”
He added that lowering the pressure is important because fans can be quick to judge. Evra believes Carrick’s support and words will help Rashford shine again. “If I were the manager, I’d want Marcus in my team. The key is communication. Carrick telling him to ignore the media and focus on playing is what Rashford needs. He still has it, and he’s not an old player. It’s just that coming back to your old club is always a challenge,” Evra explained.
Rashford could bring fresh energy to the left wing or play through the middle, especially with United back in the Champions League next season. The club has made two big signings so far – Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos – after Casemiro left on a free transfer. With Manuel Ugarte out injured, United is also keen on Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, having made an offer worth £60 million plus extras.
Evra’s happy with the new signings but believes United still need to push harder, especially for a striker. He mentioned Victor Osimhen as a player United should have signed. “I’m pleased with Tielemans and Santos. Replacing Casemiro is tough, but these players can help. I’m also hoping young Kobbie Mainoo gets more chances. I love Carrick’s style, and the club has brought some hope back,” said Evra.
“But to win the title, we need more. I still don’t get why we didn’t sign a striker like Osimhen – he’s amazing, and I don’t want him to go to Madrid or Arsenal. We also need a backup left back since Luke Shaw has had injuries. Maybe Dorgu can help there, but he’s better as a winger. The real issue is midfield. We need to strengthen it so Bruno Fernandes can focus more on attacking. That’s the problem right now – the midfield.”