What people of Wythenshawe think of under-fire Rashford

Rarely a day goes by in this transfer window without a story emerging about Marcus Rashford's potential departure from Manchester United.

After falling out of favour under new coach Ruben Amorim, Rashford said he was "ready for a new challenge" as he faces up to the biggest period of struggle in his career.

But while where he is playing his football in the second half of this season is in serious doubt, one thing is clear - during his troubled times he has overwhelming support from the area he grew up in.

The people of Wythenshawe and Withington in south Manchester are as proud of the 27-year-old as they ever have been.

"I grew up in Button Lane right where Rashford lived. I think he's brilliant and this will be one of the biggest heartbreaks I've had as a United fan if he leaves."

That's the verdict of Brandon Gittins, a Wythenshawe native who has celebrated Rashford's brilliance on the pitch and benefitted from his impact off it.

"I actually received one of the vouchers for free school meals in the pandemic," said the 19-year-old.

"Me and my mates got them. I remember thinking 'my mum's going to be buzzing!' I went straight to Tesco after school to get a proper dinner for home.

"He's a massive part of our community. I'd heard about what he was doing but I didn't actually think I'd see the effects and to be on the receiving end of it myself was really great."

Gittins is talking in front of a mural of the Manchester United forward in nearby Withington, where Rashford spent his early years. The forward's face is shown on a striking portrait set against a black brick canvas.

The artwork was created to honour Rashford's 2020 child poverty campaign, when he spearheaded efforts to support children and families struggling with food and bills amid the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The forward, who has scored 17 times in 60 caps for England, was awarded a MBE for his efforts.

Around the corner from the mural is a busy side road lined by cafes and shops that flow into the heart of Withington. Among them stands the 'Mega Pound Store', its entrance lined with an assortment of footballs.

In 2020, Rashford reflected on BBC Breakfast about how his family once depended on places such as this.

He said: "I remember we used to go to a shop called Poundworld, we would schedule out the week.

"We would get seven yoghurts and you can have one a day. My mum did the best she could within the circumstances."

Rashford's connection to his roots and the values instilled during those challenging times resonate deeply with the people in the area.

"He is all about the community, he's loved here. He represents so much more than football, he represents a better world," said United fan and Withington local Nusaybah Rwifa.

"My mate used to be one of his coaches and every time I go round to his house and see the signed Rashford shirt he has, we always laugh. Rashford is a star here."

Even if Rashford plays his football away from Manchester, as has been widely reported, that will not change how people in Withington feel about him.

"We really support our people no matter where they go, we still love them no matter what, so he will always have that love," said Nusaybah.

'He's just not performing!'

There are conflicting views though. For some, while there is affection for their hometown hero, there is also a sense his time at Old Trafford has run its course.

During one of our interviews a local postman, Mal, jumps in his van parked just behind where we are filming on the corner of the street and shouts: "He needs to go! He's just not good enough!"

It's a sentiment echoed by a few others across the neighbourhood. Many recall the electric rise of an 18-year-old academy graduate who scored on his United debut, his Premier League debut and his England debut - but those feats seem a long way off the struggles of this season.

With just seven goals and three assists in all competitions, Rashford has been increasingly criticised as the season has progressed.

Some former United players have questioned his future and Amorim left him out of the squad entirely for a stretch of games in December, including the Manchester derby.

In Wythenshawe there is admiration for what he represents, but acknowledgment that his recent form has not lived up to expectations.

"He's a great person and people from here don't usually become that successful, but it's time for him to leave now," said Oliver Noble, who we met outside a barber shop on Button Lane.

Behind us is a big patch of grass and a row of terraced houses, with the one in the middle the forward's childhood home.

"He's not putting the performances in on the pitch and he's not trying hard enough. There are clear reasons why the manager has left him out of the team, so it's not a Ruben Amorim issue, it's Marcus Rashford's issue," he adds.

The barber shop sits in a row of outlets, including beauty salons, fast food takeaways and a convenience store.

But if we go back to 2009 and look on Google Maps, it looked like this:

The child in the image is an 11-year-old Rashford, waiting for a lift to the Manchester United academy, which he joined in 2005.

That 11-year-old grew up to be one of United and England's most recognisable talents, but Rashford's career stats paint a complicated picture of his time at Old Trafford.

He has played under six permanent managers, scoring 138 goals in 426 appearances.

He has won two FA Cups, two League Cups, and a Europa League title.

But Rashford has only scored more than 10 Premier League goals in three of those 11 seasons as United have generally struggled to compete with the country's top sides.

But as he looks likely to close the chapter on his career at Manchester United, perhaps with a feeling of unfulfillment, his connection to this pocket of the city endures.

For Gittins, Rwifa, Noble and many others we spoke to, Rashford will always be more than just a footballer, no matter where his career takes him.