Rashford to AC Milan closer as Serie A giants make huge move

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 14 Jan 2025 08:08 GMT
4 min read

Marcus Rashford has moved a step closer to AC Milan after the Italian giants offloaded Noah Okafor.

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Okafor has flown out to Germany to officially sign for RB Leipzig.

The deal is a loan until the end of the season for €1.5 million, with the option to make the move permanent for €25m.

“I go now to Leipzig, Sempre Milan, you never know in life, maybe you see me again, but for me it was the best option,” Okafor told journalists as he boarded his flight at Linate Airport.

“Thanks for everything in Milan. Thanks for the Tifosi, it was great, it always holds a place in my heart.”

Okafor’s exit has now made space for Milan to sign a replacement left winger in their squad, and in particular Rashford.

Milan are currently in talks to sign Rashford from Man Utd and are leading a race that also includes Barcelona, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.

The Rossoneri are also in talks to sign Kyle Walker from Man City, but they can only bring in one Englishman this month due to Serie A rules so will have to choose between Rashford and his international teammate.

On Friday, new AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao was asked about Rashford and mostly acted coy. "Rashford is a good player like many others, some are on the market, others are not, let's see what happens," he simply said.

On Saturday, Milan director Zlatan Ibrahimovic chimed in on the links with his former Man Utd teammate.

"I played with him when he was young, now he's more of a man and a great player," he said shortly before Milan's Serie A clash with Cagliari. "From Manchester United, though. Milan is a great club, everyone wants to play for Milan. We haven't spoken to him yet, let's see if we do."

Any transfer to Milan would be an initial loan move, at least for the rest of this season, with an option to buy.

Rashford has been on the market after the attacker's controversial interview with Henry Winter last month.

The attacker admitted that he is “ready for a new challenge” amid rumours that he will leave Manchester United in 2025.

What Marcus Rashford said?

“For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps.” Rashford told Henry Winter after returning to his old primary school, Button Lane.

“When I leave it's going to be ‘no hard feelings’. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer news

"If I know that a situation is already bad I'm not going to make it worse. I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person. When I leave I'll make a statement and it will be from me.”

Rashford continued: “I’m halfway through my career. I don’t expect my peak to be now. I've had nine years so far in the Premier League and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person.

“So I don't have any regrets from the last nine years. I won’t have any regrets going forward because I take things day by day and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I just try and keep a fine balance.”

Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim has responded to Rashford's actions by not playing him since the interview. He was not in the squad for the FA Cup win against Arsenal on Sunday.