"His body language, even when he came on, isn't great." Wayne Rooney didn't tiptoe around it. His assessment of Marcus Rashford after United's friendly loss to AC Milan was direct, almost clinical — and probably the most honest public take anyone close to the club has offered this summer.
Rooney, speaking on The Overlap's Stick to United podcast, laid out a clear picture of where he sees United heading into the new Premier League season: short on bodies in key positions, and carrying a forward who still hasn't answered the fundamental question of whether he actually wants to be there.
Lewis-Skelly is the obvious call
On transfers, Rooney identified four areas requiring reinforcement before the September 1 deadline: left-back, centre-back, central midfield, and a centre forward. United have already brought in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Karl Darlow this summer, but Rooney's list suggests the squad remains thin in critical areas.
His most specific recommendation was Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly. "We're hearing he's available for not much money," Rooney said. "I think it's an absolute no-brainer. He can play left-back, he can play centre midfield. He's young, he's got a massive future ahead of him."
The logic is sound. Luke Shaw showed his limitations against Milan, and United have spent too many seasons paper-thin at left-back. A versatile, young option who can cover multiple positions for relatively modest outlay is exactly the kind of low-risk, high-upside deal that a squad in transition needs. If the price is as accessible as reported, failing to act would be a genuine oversight. United's top-four odds aren't helped by another season of Shaw injury watch.
The Rashford question
Then there's Rashford. Back at Carrington after his Barcelona loan, still without clarity on his future, still — according to Rooney — visibly disengaged.
"Does he want to play for Manchester United?" Rooney asked. "If he wants to play for Manchester United, the easiest way to rebuild a relationship with the fans is to work hard and body language. You can have a bad game and give the ball away, but if the fans see you putting a shift in, they'll accept that. Marcus' body language isn't great."
Rooney drew on personal experience — his own 2010 transfer request — to frame what it takes to win a crowd back. It's not goals alone. It's visible effort. It's playing like you give a damn. Rashford, by his own manager's admission this past season, struggled with exactly that.
- Rashford returned from a Barcelona loan this summer with his Old Trafford future unresolved
- He came off the bench in United's pre-season loss to AC Milan
- Rooney cited work rate and body language as the two areas needing immediate improvement
Rooney's conclusion wasn't damning — it was almost a plea. "I don't want to see Marcus Rashford doing well at Aston Villa or Barcelona. I want to see him do well at Manchester United." But wanting it for him and getting it from him are two different things. Right now, nobody knows which version of Rashford shows up when the league season starts this weekend.
