Rashford wants Ronaldo’s Manchester United mindset

Marcus Rashford had just started school when an adolescent Cristiano Ronaldo signed the Manchester United deal that paved his way to greatness back in 2003.

Now, at exactly the same age, 18-year-old Rashford has been labelled as the next big thing to come out of Old Trafford – and he wants to use the Portuguese superstar as a blueprint for success.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic aside, Rashford has been United’s most positive attacking outlet this year, though he has had to play second fiddle to the larger-than-life Swede so far.

(PAUL BARKER/AFP/Getty Images)

In contrast, with David Beckham out of the picture, Ronaldo was bestowed with the No.7 shirt some 13 years ago and was asked to provide much of the inspiration in a sub-par United side.

After Jose Mourinho’s big spending over the summer there is less pressure on Rashford’s shoulders, but the Wythenshawe-born striker is desperate to capture the same granite-like self-belief as his predecessor.

“When Cristiano Ronaldo came to United, he was the one who everyone looked up to,” Rashford said.

“The thing that impressed me the most was the fact he was only young when he came into the side and he wanted to be the best player in the side.

“He worked hard every single day, you saw him in the gym every single day and the results came on the pitch. He openly wanted to be the best player in the world.

“You have to have an approach like that – all the best players in the world do. It’s not arrogance or anything like that, it’s the mindset you need to achieve things.”