Marcus Rashford’s hopes of a permanent move to Barcelona are hanging by a thread, with the Spanish champions expected to let the 15 June deadline for a £26m transfer slip by without agreement.
Manchester United are yet to receive official communication from the Catalan club, but speculation has intensified in the past 24 hours that Barca will not trigger the clause following Rashford’s loan spell. Barcelona have already spent £69.3m on Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon, who is competing with Rashford for an England starting spot at the World Cup. The 25-year-old Gordon was preferred, sources say, because of his willingness to contribute defensively – a weakness flagged as Rashford’s “weakest point” by Spanish outlet Marca. Rashford’s reported £315,000-a-week wages were also a concern; Barcelona told United they would pay only half the asking price, around £13m, a figure Old Trafford flatly refused.
“Barcelona expected to snub £26m Rashford option, leaving Man Utd with a costly problem”
Rashford, 28, scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists as Barcelona won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, but his performances were not considered sufficient to retain him. United have repeatedly said they will not renegotiate, and even sources close to the player feel the deadline will pass without agreement. Manager Michael Carrick, a former teammate and coach, said in April no decision had been made, adding: “Whoever’s here, I want to work with, and help them improve.”
If the deadline passes, there is breathing space. Rashford is entitled to three weeks off after England’s World Cup campaign ends; should the Three Lions exit in the quarter-finals, he would not be due back at Carrington until the first week of August. That leaves a window for a resolution – possibly a return to Barcelona on different terms, according to numerous sources.
But another option has emerged. Rashford has previously voiced openness to a reunion with Jose Mourinho, who is poised to take over at Real Madrid this summer. “I would never say no,” Rashford said in 2021. “Other than United? I’m a big fan of Real Madrid and Barcelona, because they’ve always had great players and played attractive football.” He featured consistently under Mourinho at United between 2016 and 2018 before falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim, who placed him in the “bomb squad” before loaning him to Aston Villa in January 2025. Rashford then joined Barcelona last summer.
Now, with his loan effectively finished, Rashford holds one of United’s most lucrative contracts, running until 2028. Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to lower top-level wages, placing the forward in a difficult position. Whether his next move leads to Madrid, a revised Barcelona deal, or an uncertain return to Old Trafford, the clock is ticking.