Ruud van Nistelrooy left Manchester United in 2006 with 150 goals in 219 games on his CV. Now this was a completely different era for Man United, but the Dutchman’s words of wisdom also apply to Marcus Rashford.
Van Nistelrooy signed for Real Madrid, won two La Liga titles, but later said that nothing will be the same after playing for Manchester United.
“I know what it’s like when you’ve left (from Man United). It’s gone, it’s not coming back anymore,” Van Nistelrooy said four years after his exit from Old Trafford.
-I was lucky. I was lucky to play with Real Madrid [after United]. Where can you go after United? Probably it’s just Madrid. But all other things are not the same. Now I know what it is – to play for such clubs that are unique to a player,” the United legend said at the time.
Marcus Rashford has this week himself said he is ready for new challenges, Van Nistelrooy’s words hang there as a warning. Life outside Old Trafford will not be the same, it is probably only Real Madrid who can match the experience of wearing the United shirt.
It is therefore disturbing that Rashford could be forced to end up as a partner for Cristiano Ronaldo
For Van Nistelrooy, there was another exit from Manchester United, this time as assistant coach and super substitute. Not an easy farewell, either.
