For years, the Manchester derby has been defined by fierce competition between Manchester City and Manchester United. But behind the rivalry, there was once a surprising player Pep Guardiola admired enough to consider bringing to the Etihad Stadium.
That player was Marcus Rashford.
The revelation came from Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, who recalled a conversation he had with Guardiola about the Red Devils’ squad. When Giggs asked the former Manchester City manager which United player he liked most, Guardiola’s answer was not David de Gea, Luke Shaw or another obvious name.
Instead, Guardiola reportedly identified Rashford as Manchester United’s best player and suggested he would take the forward to City immediately.
The revelation offers an intriguing look at how Guardiola viewed Rashford’s ability, even during periods when the England international faced criticism over his consistency at Old Trafford.
Guardiola’s Surprise Choice at Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes has become one of Manchester United’s most important players in recent seasons, with the Portugal international also earning the Premier League Player of the Year award after setting an assist record in the previous campaign.
Yet Fernandes was not the Manchester United player who caught Guardiola’s eye the most.
According to Giggs, the conversation with Guardiola took place when he asked the Spanish coach which United player he particularly liked.
Giggs initially tried to guess the answer.
“I then asked Pep, ‘Who do you like at Manchester United?’ He said, ‘Who do you think?’. I said De Gea? No. Luke Shaw?” Giggs recalled, as quoted by Give Me Sport.
Guardiola then gave an answer that surprised the former United winger.
“He said, ‘The best player at Manchester United is Marcus Rashford. I would take him tomorrow’,” Giggs said.
The response clearly caught Giggs off guard.
“I immediately thought, ‘Wow, OK’. It made me think, what does he actually see in Rashford?” he added.
For a manager who spent a decade competing against Manchester United, Guardiola’s assessment of Rashford is particularly interesting.
Why Marcus Rashford Stood Out to Guardiola
Rashford emerged from Manchester United’s academy and broke into the first team in 2016. He immediately attracted attention by scoring on his senior debut.
Over the years, the English forward has shown that he can be a major attacking threat when operating at his best.
One of the clearest examples came during his most productive campaigns, when Rashford managed to score as many as 30 goals in a single season.
His ability to attack from wide areas, accelerate into space and threaten defenders made him an important part of United’s attacking options.
However, Rashford’s time at Old Trafford has also included difficult periods.
His performances have sometimes dropped, while questions about consistency and attitude have also surrounded him during different stages of his career. Those issues have contributed to uncertainty over his long-term role at Manchester United.
Guardiola’s reported opinion suggests that, despite those concerns, he continued to see qualities that could make Rashford an attractive player for a top-level team.
Rashford’s Complicated Manchester United Journey
Rashford’s career at Manchester United has not followed a completely straightforward path.
After establishing himself as a first-team player, he experienced several periods of excellent form alongside stretches when his performances came under scrutiny.
His ability to score heavily in a season demonstrated his potential, but maintaining that level consistently proved more difficult.
The forward also experienced changes away from Old Trafford, including loan spells with Aston Villa and Barcelona, before returning to Manchester United.
Now 28, Rashford is back with his boyhood club and attempting to establish himself once again.
His current situation is particularly interesting because he has started receiving minutes under Michael Carrick, although he has more often been introduced from the bench.
That means his next challenge is not simply returning to the squad, but convincing the coaching staff that he deserves a regular starting position.
Rashford Has a History Against Manchester City
One reason Guardiola may have appreciated Rashford’s qualities is the forward’s record against Manchester City.
Rashford has produced memorable moments in the Manchester derby, including a winning goal at the Etihad Stadium before Guardiola’s era.
He also scored a spectacular long-range effort against City in 2024.
That strike added to Rashford’s impressive record against United’s local rivals, taking his total to six goals against Manchester City.
His record against City makes the Guardiola revelation even more fascinating. The player admired by the Manchester City manager was also capable of causing serious problems for his own team.
For Manchester United supporters, those performances remain an important reminder of what Rashford can produce when confidence and form come together.
Manchester City’s Rise Made the Rivalry Even Tougher
Guardiola’s admiration for Rashford came during a period when Manchester City had established themselves as one of the dominant forces in English football.
During Guardiola’s decade in charge, City collected six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and one Champions League trophy.
The club’s rise was powered by the arrival and development of numerous elite players, including Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Erling Haaland.
For Manchester United, City’s progress represented a difficult period in the rivalry.
The contrast made Guardiola’s reported interest in Rashford particularly notable. Instead of simply looking outside Manchester for another attacking star, he reportedly identified a player developed by United’s own academy as someone he would like to have at City.
What Guardiola’s Rashford Verdict Says About His Potential
The most interesting part of Giggs’ story is not necessarily whether Manchester City ever came close to signing Rashford.
Rather, it highlights the level of talent Guardiola believed the forward possessed.
Rashford has experienced significant highs and lows during his Manchester United career, but the qualities that made him dangerous have remained clear.
Key elements of his game include:
- Explosive pace when attacking space.
- Ability to operate from wide attacking positions.
- Proven goalscoring ability.
- Experience in major Premier League matches.
- A strong record in Manchester derbies.
His current return to Manchester United therefore represents another opportunity to demonstrate those qualities.
If Rashford can regain consistency and earn a regular starting role, the qualities Guardiola once admired could once again become a major part of his game.
For now, Giggs’ revelation provides a fascinating reminder that even during difficult periods, Rashford was capable of earning admiration from one of the most successful managers in Manchester City’s history.
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