Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford has made a startling transfer confession in a leaked conversation that took place before the club’s Champions League match against Roma in midweek.

Rashford is currently on the sidelines due to injury, but since returning to Man Utd from Barcelona has struggled to be decisive, having failed to score or assist in the eight games he has played following his return.

United tried to offload him in the summer, largely due to his big wages, but Michael Carrick has welcomed him back into the fold.

However, Rashford revealed in a question-and-answer session before the clash with Roma that he was desperate to leave England prior to his loan to Barca in quotes relayed by Sport.

“During my time at Aston Villa I realised one thing, I couldn't continue playing against United every season. If United is not an option, I told my agent to take me abroad, don't take me to another Premier League club,” he said.

“After Barcelona I didn't want to go back to England if it wasn't to play for United.”

Rashford praises Lamine Yamal: The closest thing to Messi

One of the experiences that Rashford relished while playing with Barcelona was the chance to play with Lamine Yamal – a player he believes is the closest thing to Lionel Messi that the next generation will produce.

“Before I left Barcelona, I told him I've played with some talented, talented players, but he's above them all,” Rashford confessed.

“I've never seen a player at that age be as talented as what he is. So for me, yeah, I've never said this out to the media before, but for me, he's the closest somebody can get to the level of Messi over the years. It's only my opinion, but yeah, I believe in this guy's talent so much.

“I text him and just let him know, listen, he's what, he has finished second, third, and third. So he's finished second place, third place, and eighth place so far. And at the age of what, 19? So we'll see what he does, but if he goes on to win seven Ballons d'Or, I wouldn't be surprised.”

But Rashford says that Harry Kane was the rightful winner of the 2026 prize.

“Kane won the award and it's an individual award and he scored stupid amount of goals this year and stupid amount of assists,” he said of his England team-mate.

“So in my opinion, he deserved to win it this year. So I actually texted him the other day, and I said it's well deserved. Like I don't think it's like a surprise that he won it. I think, number-wise, and you know what he won with the club, and he deserved to win it this year.”