Ex-Man Utd star Juan Mata offers 'win-win' option for Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford has been linked with several clubs but Juan Mata believes the best option for him and Manchester United is if he stays at Old Trafford.

The Spaniard describes such an outcome as a “win-win situation” for both player and team.

Mata, who played alongside Rashford during his time at Old Trafford and witnessed his rise from academy prospect to first-team star, reflected on Rashford’s early days with the senior squad.

“I saw his first training session with us. I love him. As a kid, I called him ‘the wonderkid.’ The way he played was fearless; you could feel he could win a game by himself at any time when he was playing at his best,” Mata recalled.

With Rashford’s role at United under review by manager Ruben Amorim and his future uncertain following a loan spell at Aston Villa, Mata urged both the club and Rashford to find a solution that allows him to remain and thrive at Old Trafford.

“As a Man United fan and as a friend of Marcus, I wish that he can succeed here because it’s his club, his boyhood club,” Mata said, reported the Manchester Evening News.

“If he stays and he can actually be happy and enjoy, I think it will be a win-win situation for both the club and him”.

Rashford, who recently had his iconic number 10 shirt given to new signing Matheus Cunha, is reportedly not in Amorim’s plans for the upcoming season.

However, Mata’s comments highlight the affection and belief many at United still have for Rashford, and the hope that he can rediscover his best form at the club where he made his name.

Mata’s remarks come at a crucial time, as Rashford weighs up his next move and United continue their summer rebuild. For Mata, the ideal scenario is clear: Rashford staying at United, happy and successful, would benefit everyone involved.