Marcus Rashford was able to keep a promise he made to his brother aged just 11, thanks to the intervention of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Manchester United forward has made his way up through the academy at the club to be a big player in the first team. As he was growing up, the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were at the club, and it’s an afternoon involving the two where Rashford recalls making the promise.
“For me, even at 11 years old, playing for United was my only goal,” he told the Players’ Tribune. “I remember around that time, when I was still trying to get signed, Wazza (Wayne Rooney) and Cristiano came by to do something with all the academy lads, and I was just looking at them in awe, you know what I mean?
“They had a photographer there, and at the end all us kids had a chance to get a picture with them, and I remember hanging in the back away from everyone. I remember my brother saying, “Go take a picture with Wazza, bro! What are you doing???
“I said, “I don’t need a picture. He said, “Don’t need a picture???” I said, “I’m going to be playing alongside them someday.”
Half of that promise came true seven years later when Rashford made his breakthrough into the first team. His first season coincided with Rooney’s final season at the club before the striker returned to former club Everton.
However, Ronaldo had completed a move to Real Madrid in 2009, which wouldn’t have been long after meeting the academy team. The football superstar moved to Juventus in 2018 but was then faced with a choice in 2021.
Both United and rivals Manchester City were interested in signing him. In an interview with Piers Morgan in 2022, Ronaldo outlined how a chat with Ferguson helped him to make up his mind over where he should move.
“I wouldn’t say that Manchester City wasn’t close,” he said. “But as you know, my history in Manchester United, your heart, you’re feeling the way that you did before, makes the difference. And of course, as well, Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I spoke with him. He said to me ‘it’s impossible for you to come to Manchester City’. And I say ‘OK, boss’. I did [make] a conscious decision, and I repeat, I was with conscience that it was a good decision.”
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford. He went on to play another 55 times for the club before moving to Saudi Arabia. Although Ronaldo’s return wasn’t as successful as many may have hoped it did give Rashford a chance to complete the second part of his promise of playing alongside the Ballon d’Or winner.
