Marcus Rashford has the potential to be one of the best players in the world but he may need to leave Old Trafford to unlock it.

That is the opinion of Manchester United legend Nicky Butt - who played 387 games for the club between 1992 and 2004, winning 15 trophies.

Rashford has scored 131 goals in 306 games for United but he has only netted nine times in his last 50 club outings.

The 26-year-old's dip in form saw him miss out on a place at Euro 2024 and he has also been left out of England's squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Ireland and Finland.

Butt worked at United in the club's youth development set-up between 2012 and 2021, during which time he spent a lot of time with Rashford.

Marcus Rashford pictured with his head in his hands during Man United's 3-0 loss to Liverpool

The former midfielder, 49, appeared on talkSPORT on Monday and he was asked what he thought was going on with Rashford.

Butt replied: 'I don't know and it's actually sad watching that, because I've known Marcus since he was probably eight or nine at Man United coming through and he's always been the one that you hold hope for.

'I do believe and people will be screaming down the phone now probably but I do believe he's still got the talent to be one of the best top players in the world.

'He's just not clicking for the last few years at Man United, you're always saying, "he's just going to do it, he's going to do it", but it's looking like maybe it's time for a change for him.

'No one really knows what his mentality is, but there's a lot of talent within that man and he's a top, top footballer.

'But it's just not happening for Man United now, people always point to the fact of his body language, he doesn't care, I can tell you now he does care, he's a proper lad but it's just not clicking for him.

'Maybe it is time to go and find a club where he can get a bit of a deep breath, the eyes aren't on him all the time.

'He's the excuse for all the fans, all the fans look at him and it's not just him, the whole team, the whole squad needs to up the game.'

Rashford is under contract with United until June 2028. He is said to be earning around £300,000 per week.

He has started in all three of United's Premier League fixtures this season, as well as in the Community Shield clash with Man City.

United have won just one of those games - a 1-0 victory over Fulham - while Rashford has yet to provide a goal or an assist.

Rashford played the full 90 minutes on Sunday as United fell to a 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool. He touched the ball 32 times and recorded zero shots.

He also failed to register a single shot during a 64-minute cameo against Brighton or in 90 minutes against Fulham.

Rashford had three attempts against City in the Community Shield but all of them were off target.