UNITED Rashford follows Ronaldo’s road to Reds success
MARCUS Rashford has already drawn comparisons with United great Cristiano Ronaldo.
And the Reds youngster is following the Real Madrid superstar’s lead on the Carrington training ground.
Rashford has already claimed he can pull off the Portuguese’s stunning ‘knuckle ball’ free-kick technique, saying: “I can do it like he does it but I haven’t done it [in a game] yet.”
And, like Ronaldo – who famously put in extra sessions after training to hone his skills – he is also putting in the graft to make sure he reaches the top.
Rashford grabbed his United opportunity when Louis van Gaal handed it to him two seasons ago – and he has maintained his intense desire to be the best under Jose Mourinho.
Club and international team-mate Ashley Young gave an insight into his determination when he spoke at England training camp ahead of the friendlies with Germany and Brazil.
He said: “I think the manager is having to drag him off the training pitch every day because he is just wanting to better himself.
“It’s refreshing to see a kid like that just wanting to get to the top.
“I saw him when he was coming up through the ranks at United.
“He obviously got his debut straight away and kicked on from there.
“I always said all along, for me, he’s a special talent. He was always going to go a long way. Even now he’s got his feet on the ground and he wants to learn. He just wants to better himself each day.”
Rashford could be handed the chance to lead the line for his country when England face Germany tonight without Harry Kane.
It is a role he covets for United, though he has had to – like Ronaldo before him – initially bide his time on the wings and in support roles.
He has rotated patiently with Anthony Martial to good effect for much of the campaign, scoring seven goals.
But he isn’t about to stop firing reminders at Mourinho says Young, who was aware of Rashford’s ‘special talent’ before he broke into United’s first team a mere 623 days ago.
“For me, as a senior pro, you got the chance to watch the Under-18s and you could tell he was going to be a big talent,” he said.
“Speaking to him even at that young age, he was one of them who just wanted to learn and to be the best.
“I’m delighted for him because he wants to work and learn and he’s doing fantastically well.”