Marcus Rashford didn't give the impression of being consumed by concerns about his future as he trained in heat that climbed above 30C in Kansas City. For the next month or so, his concentration is on England – and on Wednesday, the World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas. But Monday brought a deadline that passed without activation: Barcelona decided not to trigger the £26m clause to turn his loan into a permanent deal. On 1 July, when Rashford will hope to be preparing for a last-32 encounter in Atlanta, he will officially return to being a Manchester United player, with a £325,000-a-week contract that still has two years to run.
In theory, Rashford could resume his career at his boyhood club. Head coach Michael Carrick, who has been a team-mate, coach and hands-on manager of the academy graduate, said in April that no decision had been made about the attacker's future. “Whoever's here, I want to work with them and help them to improve,” Carrick added. But minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to bring wage costs down, and that is not simple when the highest earner is on such a huge sum. United gave Rashford's number 10 shirt to Matheus Cunha last season and are hardly likely to take it off the Brazilian. The summer squad rebuilding plans are being pieced together in the belief Rashford will not be part of them.
“Barcelona declined to trigger Rashford's £26m buy clause; the forward now faces an uncertain Manchester United future while focused on England's World Cup.”
Yet it is tricky. Twelve months ago, Ruben Amorim placed Rashford in his 'bomb squad' and told him to train at different times to the main group – the same treatment given to Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia. Last week, world governing body Fifa announced a memorandum of understanding with global players' union Fifpro. Within the detail, it was confirmed any player exiled from the main group can demand to be released – and to have their contracts paid up. It is fair to assume ostracising Rashford this season is off the agenda.
For now, United say they expect the forward to return following his post-World Cup break. But before that, Rashford has a World Cup campaign to focus on. England face Ghana on Thursday, a match that would seal a last-32 place with a second straight win in Group L. Rashford is pushing to start, alongside Marc Guehi and Bukayo Saka. Whatever happens at club level, for the next few weeks his job is to help England progress – and to remind everyone of the talent that once made him one of Europe's most feared forwards.