Marcus Rashford to Tottenham: Conte would resurrect him like Lukaku
Tottenham's approach to sign Marcus Rashford has been turned down by Manchester United — but playing under Antonio Conte could be exactly what the England forward needs to revive his career.
Rashford is coming off the back of a disastrous year, having missed a crucial penalty for England in the Euro 2020 final shootout last summer before struggling for form in an injury-hit campaign.
The 24-year-old looks a shadow of the player that had 57 goals and 37 assists in the three previous seasons and only started 13 of his 25 Premier League appearances this year, scoring just four goals.
Despite entering the final year of his deal, United seem reluctant to sell their academy graduate and rebuffed the approach from Spurs, although Rashford could benefit in pushing to play for Conte.
Marcus Rashford: Conte's next Lukaku?
Rashford has been playing like a man with the world on his shoulders, perhaps partially due to his off-the-pitch responsibilities that saw him given an MBE in 2020.
Having played for United since the age of seven, Rashford has become a role model for young fans and spares no attempt at using his platform for social causes.
However, he has often suffered abuse from fans, with some claiming he is too conscious of his public image, and the pressure appears to have affected his performances on the pitch.
A move away from Manchester could prove to be a blessing in disguise for Rashford, particularly to Tottenham where he could focus on his football under the leadership of veterans such as Harry Kane.
Rashford could take inspiration from Romelu Lukaku who also had a difficult spell at Old Trafford before leaving to play for Conte at Inter Milan in 2019.
The Belgian striker ended up resurrecting his career under Conte, scoring 64 goals in 95 games, and credited the Italian for improving his game.
Although Rashford might not lead the line as a prolific scorer, his work rate and speed would make him a perfect Conte player.
The former Chelsea boss is known for getting the best out of misfiring players and it is no surprise that he appears to be a fan of a player like Rashford.
The likelihood of a move happening though appears to be slim, with Rashford reportedly not giving up on his United career and vowing to fight for his place under new boss Erik ten Hag.