Marcus Rashford has been seen in public for the first time since being controversially dropped from Manchester United’s squad last weekend.

The 27-year-old forward was left out by head coach Ruben Amorim for the derby victory over Manchester City and was subsequently excluded from the squad against Tottenham and Bournemouth.

Instead of watching the matches from home, as he did during the dramatic loss to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and the win at the Etihad, Rashford attended Old Trafford on Sunday to watch his teammates face Bournemouth. A photo shared on social media captured Rashford smiling in the tunnel while posing with a young fan, dressed in a club tracksuit.

Amorim has publicly expressed his desire to keep Rashford at United, but his exclusion from three consecutive matches has fueled speculation of a possible January departure.

Rashford further stirred discussions with a recent interview at a local school where he hinted at being “ready for a new challenge.” His last appearance for the club was on December 12 in a 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen, where he was substituted after 56 minutes. Rashford remains under contract until 2028, earning around £325,000 per week.

Amorim attempted to downplay the situation in a press conference, stating: “We are better with Marcus Rashford, that’s simple. We’ll try different approaches to help him reach the top levels he’s shown before. He’s a huge talent, and my focus is on helping him. Nothing has changed—he’s a Manchester United player.”

When asked whether Rashford’s absence was due to disciplinary issues, Amorim dismissed the notion, emphasizing that the situation remained unchanged.

The uncertainty surrounding Rashford’s future has led to frustration among fans, with some unveiling a critical banner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that read: “Excuses. Ta ra, Marcus.”

Pundit Gary Neville also weighed in, suggesting that Rashford’s ongoing situation is becoming a distraction for the club. Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said, “If you’d asked me a week ago whether Rashford could leave in January, I’d have said no chance. But when a player becomes the focal point of press conferences and a distraction for the manager, it becomes clear that a departure might be inevitable.”