Wayne Rooney Challenges Marcus Rashford to Rediscover Hunger at Manchester United

Wayne Rooney believes only one man can take his Manchester United goals record away from him – Marcus Rashford – but says the forward must rediscover his hunger and repair his bond with the club.

Rooney, United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals, used his new podcast, Stick to United, to issue a blunt challenge to Rashford, whose Old Trafford career is entering what feels like a decisive second act.

Rooney’s challenge to Rashford

Rashford is back in the fold under Michael Carrick after Barcelona chose not to turn last season’s loan into a permanent move. The 28-year-old, who also spent time on loan at Aston Villa in 2025, had looked destined for a future away from Old Trafford. Now he has another shot.

"It’s just such a strange one with Marcus because I think we know he’s got the ability. I think he’s shown that," Rooney said. "For me, has he got the hunger, does he want to play for Manchester United?"

Rooney knows the tension of that question better than most. He referenced his own 2010 request to leave United as a turning point in his relationship with supporters.

"I’ve been there in 2010 when I asked to leave the football club – he has to build a relationship with the fans," Rooney explained. "And the easiest way to do that is to work hard and body language."

That, in Rooney’s eyes, is where Rashford is falling short.

"I think Marcus’ body language isn’t great, and so it might be something he has to work on. He might have to work with someone to make his body language look better," he said. "I think his work rate has to improve, but if he wants to be at the football club, he just needs to knuckle down."

Record in reach – but only on United’s terms

Rashford currently sits 15th on United’s all-time scoring list with 138 goals. The numbers show the scale of his talent. They also show how far he still has to go to catch Rooney.

Yet Rooney is adamant the ceiling is there.

"He’s a young lad. He’s from Manchester. He’s the one player who can go and get my goalscoring record," Rooney said.

The problem, in his view, is not talent. It’s where – and how – Rashford chooses to use it.

Rashford has not played for United since December 2024 after falling out of favour under then-manager Ruben Amorim, which led to his temporary spells at Villa Park and Camp Nou. Those loans reminded everyone what he can do away from Old Trafford. Rooney doesn’t want that to be the story.

"I don’t want to see Marcus Rashford doing well at Aston Villa or doing well at Barcelona," he insisted. "I want to see him doing well at Manchester United and scoring goals for Manchester United."

The route back, Rooney says, is brutally simple.

"That means he has to just get his head down, work his socks off, and then be more positive," he added. "But it’s on him."

A question of trust and desire

Rooney also urged Rashford to examine his inner circle as he weighs up his future and tries to reset his United career.

"If he’s back playing for Manchester United, I think he has to have a real close look at who’s round him," Rooney said. "Only he can say who the people are around him who he really trusts. Because there’s not many people you trust really."

"It’d be a small amount of people, keep them close to him, go into training, work hard, get himself right. If he does that, he’ll be fine."

The message from United’s greatest goalscorer is clear. The record is there, waiting. The shirt is still his. But the next move – body language, work rate, desire – belongs entirely to Marcus Rashford.