Anthony Elanga names best Man Utd teammate with clear Cristiano Ronaldo verdict

30 October 2023 , 09:35

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Anthony Elanga has named Marcus Rashford as the best Manchester United player he lined up with (Image: Getty Images)

Anthony Elanga has named Marcus Rashford as the best he played with at Manchester United - and described the England international as having "everything".

Rashford has scored just once in 13 appearances for United so far this season, with his only goal coming in the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal last month. However, the 25-year-old was in scintillating form last term, netting an impressive 30 times in 56 matches, including 18 in the Premier League.

He hasn't been able to replicate that this time around, but Elanga isn't in doubt that Rashford is the best he worked with during his time at Old Trafford. Elanga spent two years in the first-team set up alongside Rashford after coming through the United academy and making his first-team debut in May 2021.

When asked about the best player at United, Elanga told the Daily Mail : "I have to say Marcus Rashford is the best I have played with. He has got everything, speed, skill, shot, finishing, the way he played last season was amazing. Off the field he is top, he helped me a lot coming through.

"Kobbie Mainoo [is the next big academy star]. He is one of my close guys that I still speak to at United and I believe he is next the top one, his talent is unreal. He has got everything and I just hope United can look after him really well and let him flourish. He is a top player."

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Elanga made 55 senior appearances at the Red Devils before moving to Nottingham Forest in the summer and he was part of the first-team picture when United announced the re-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner immediately hit the ground running and ended the 2021/22 season on 24 goals.

He added: "I have learnt from arguably the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, I have learnt from Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Varane, Casemiro, I can go through the whole team because they are all world class players not just what they do on the pitch but off the pitch as well with their discipline and how they look after themselves."

Anthony Elanga played with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United (Getty Images)

Sweden international Elanga made the difficult decision to leave United in the summer and sign for Forest, who escaped relegation with a game to spare last season. Steve Cooper's side finished 16th, four points above the dreaded drop zone and bolstered their squad with the signing of Elanga back in July.

Elanga signed a five-year deal at The City Ground, with Forest paying United £15million for the talented wide-man. Although The Reds haven't exactly started the campaign impressively, Elanga scored the winner in one of their only two victories - a 1-0 success over big-spending Chelsea last month.

Anthony Elanga in action for Nottingham Forest on Sunday (Getty Images)

"It wasn't easy to leave United because I had been there for nine years from academy to first team," Elanga said. "But at the end of the day I have to think about myself and would I want to stay another year coming in and out from the bench or be a starter at a team on the rise, improving and getting better.

"For me the option for Forest is perfect. Leaving United was difficult and they are arguably the biggest club in the world but I have to think about what I want and how I see myself in the next few years growing and getting better every day. The perfect decision."

Kieran King