Rashford: I've always dreamed of playing for United

You can only imagine how jealous other fans are of the fact that Marcus Rashford plays for Manchester United and loves the club like the supporters do. A hero on and off the pitch, Rashford has spoken about his first game at Old Trafford. The Brazilian Ronaldo was his childhood hero and his brother took him to the 4-3 game against Real Madrid in 2003, when Rashford was just five, and he was hooked from then on. Speaking with the club’s official podcast, Rashford has reflected on that game.

Ronaldo was one of my favourite players growing up. He was someone I used to always watch on YouTube and stuff like that. Literally the only reason my brother took me to the game was because he was playing. I don’t actually remember watching the game. I just remember the lights and Old Trafford being huge and full of people. There was so many goals in the game, it was hectic.

That was my first game. I already had a bond with United because of my household, it was just Man United. After going to Old Trafford, that was it, that was the only club I dreamed of playing for. I used to just love the whole build-up to game, getting buses and the train and there being loads of fans there. It wasn’t just the game for me, it was the build-up and the club being a family. That’s what drew me to United initially.

Once I got involved with the club, from then on it was a no-brainer: we fit together. I’d trained at other clubs before that and it just wasn’t the same feeling. Of course, I enjoyed playing football, but it wasn’t the same as training at United. It was quite an easy decision.

Rashford admits that the passion he had as a kid is still there on match day now but he has to control it otherwise he’d get himself sent off!

I have the same feeling but I have to find a way to control it, otherwise I’d just get loads of red cards! It gets too emotional sometimes. At the beginning of my career, the coaches will tell you there was times against Liverpool and City where they’ve had to take me off the pitch, they’ve had to substitute me because I used to let my emotions get the better of me and do things that weren’t in my character.

I have to find a way to control it, but coming to the first team at such a young age and seeing how professional the players were, they showed me you have to put things aside and go on the pitch and be professional. That’s what I do now. I do things that make me relaxed, to settle myself down. Then I feel like I’m ready to play the game.