Rooney backs Rashford to chase United record amid uncertain future

Wayne Rooney believes Marcus Rashford is the only player capable of overtaking his Manchester United all-time goalscoring record, but warned the forward must show the right attitude and motivation to do it.

Rashford is back in the United fold and could feature in the Premier League opener away at newly promoted Hull City on Saturday. He made his first appearance for the club since December 2024 on Saturday, coming off the bench in a 4-2 pre-season defeat to AC Milan.

The England international has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for United, putting him 115 goals short of Rooney's club record. Rashford's future remains unclear after 18 months on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona, although centre-back Harry Maguire said after the Milan game that he wants United to keep the attacker.

"He has to knuckle down"

Rooney also wants Rashford to stay, but only if he shows the right application after repeatedly outlining a desire to join Barcelona permanently last season.

Speaking on Disney+'s Stick to Football show, Rooney said: "If he wants to be at the football club, he just has to knuckle down. He's the player that could go and get my goalscoring record! I don't want to see Marcus Rashford doing well at Aston Villa or Barcelona. I want to see him doing well at Man United and scoring goals for Man United. But that means he has to get his head down and work his socks off. Be more positive. Play with a smile on his face."

Rashford scored four goals and five assists in 17 matches for Villa in the second half of 2024-25, then registered 25 direct goal involvements with 14 goals and 11 assists in Barcelona's LaLiga title-winning 2025-26 season.

Body language concern

While confident in Rashford's talent, Rooney highlighted a need for improved body language.

"It's such a strange one with Marcus. We know he's got the ability; he's shown that, but has he got the hunger? Does he want to play for Manchester United?" Rooney added. "I've been there, in 2010, when I asked to leave the football club. Then I stayed. You have to rebuild the relationship with the fans and the easiest way to do that is work hard and work on your body language. You could have a bad game, you could give the ball away and make mistakes, but if the fans see you working hard and putting in a shift for the team, they'll accept that."

"I think Marcus' body language, even when he came on [against Milan]... it isn't great. He might have to work with someone to make his body language look better," Rooney said.

United boss Michael Carrick has yet to indicate whether Rashford will remain at the club as the Premier League campaign gets underway.