Phil Neville: Manchester United’s Rashford as good as Mbappe, Dembele
There is no doubting that PSG’s Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele are two of of the brightest prospects in world football. However, former Manchester United great Phil Neville believes neither have anything on Marcus Rashford.
“Everybody praises Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe but nobody talks about Rashford in this country,” said former Manchester United defender Neville on Sky Sports.
“Because he’s English we just say ‘he plays on the left wing, he’s OK’,” the pundit added. “He is up there with Dembele and Mbappe, who also play on either wing. People say you have to play Rashford as a centre-forward but you can play him anywhere because he is good enough.”
Neville spoke these words following United’s 4-1 win over Burton in the EFL Cup in which Rashford scored twice in the first half and provided an assist after the break. He could have easily finished his hat trick but Jose Mourinho thought wise to sub him off early.
Rashford has now struck 28 times for United — and he’s just 19-years old.
The young Englishman is accompanied by both Dembele and Mbappe on the Golden Boy shortlist, with the later the favorite to take home the award. Despite that, Neville believes Rashford is on the same level:
"“Rashford is in the same bracket as those two – £100m-£150m players – he is every bit as good as those two and can be in the future because he is improving every season”"
Rashford broke in under Louis van Gaal, but his tenure at the club was ended early in favor of bringing on Mourinho.
Mourinho’s relationship with youth is — well — rocky to say the least. He has a track record of not giving young players a chance to prove themselves. But Rashford still managed to play more than any other Red Devil last season. That alone shows the ability he has to gain the trust and respect of one of the world’s best managers.
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“… under Jose Mourinho everyone thought he wouldn’t play but he did in all the big games. Now he is adding goals to his game and he can be absolutely world class,” Neville added.
Both Mbappe and Dembele were subjected to huge transfer this summer. PSG could shell out as much as £160m for Mbappe, and Barcelona’s fee for Dembele could rise to £130m after add-ons.
If the Manchester Evening News is to be trusted, Barcelona have United’s prized youngster in their sights and will look to partner him with Dembele next summer.
United reportedly value Rashford at £185m; but that’s far too cheap for the future of Manchester United and England football.
Rashford is a player that United cannot afford to lose. He’s a home grown talent. A product of United’s legendary youth system. He could go down as a legend — one of the best players in United’s storied history if he continues at this pace — but he has to remain at Old Trafford.
He’s dealt with all the hype, expectations, and criticism that comes with being a phenomenal young Englishman. The media in England has more than once put more weight and expectations on a player than they could handle — and their careers suffered.
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With Rashford, though, the sense is different. He truly belongs to be in the same conversation as a player who will lead the next generation along with Mbappe and Demele and help fill the void left by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. And that’s why United must retain him. Neville is right — Rashford is good enough. He’s good enough to one day bring his boyhood club back to precipice of world football at which it stood.