Ruben Amorim, the manager of AC Milan, is set to face Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo again this weekend in a pre-season friendly. This encounter marks a significant point in the careers of the Manchester United players, who were previously sidelined by Amorim during his tenure at Old Trafford.
In January 2025, following a match against Fulham, Amorim publicly criticized Marcus Rashford's commitment, stating that he would prioritize players who consistently give their maximum effort, even referencing a less mobile goalkeeping coach over the then high-earning forward. This incident, widely reported, appeared to signal the end of Rashford's time at Manchester United.
Sources close to the players have expressed a desire to move past the difficult period, noting that Amorim is no longer at the club. However, some Manchester United staff members reportedly harbor a strong desire to defeat Amorim's AC Milan, viewing it as more significant than the match itself.
Rashford was later loaned to Aston Villa and then Barcelona, where he achieved success, winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. His return to Manchester United has been positive, with new signing Youri Tielemans, who played with Rashford at Aston Villa, describing him as humble and hard-working. Manager Michael Carrick has also spoken positively about Rashford's mindset, though his long-term future at the club remains uncertain amid wage bill considerations and interest from other Premier League clubs.
Kobbie Mainoo also experienced a challenging period under Amorim, with the manager expressing a lack of trust in the young midfielder in a December 2025 press conference. Despite Mainoo's emergence as a key player for England, Amorim maintained it was his decision not to select him when he felt it inappropriate.
The upcoming match in Poland holds symbolic weight, with two players Amorim had cast aside now poised to play central roles against him. While both Rashford and Mainoo are focused on the present, the narrative of facing the manager who publicly dismissed them adds an undeniable layer of intrigue to the friendly fixture. Some within the United camp are anticipating the match with a strong motivation to secure a victory against their former manager.