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 — linking up with Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney, Djed Spence, Eberechi Eze and Anthony Gordon in a passing drill ahead of England’s World Cup Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas.
The deadline Barcelona agreed with Manchester United to trigger a £26m clause to turn Rashford’s loan into a permanent deal passed without it being activated. 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.
“Barcelona chose not to trigger Marcus Rashford's £26m permanent transfer clause, leaving his Manchester United future uncertain.”
In theory, Rashford could return to his boyhood club and resume his career there. Head coach Michael Carrick knows him well — a team-mate, coach and, for three games following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021, hands-on manager of one of the recent star graduates of United’s academy. When Carrick was asked about Rashford in April, he said no decision had been made about the attacker’s future. “Whoever’s here, I want to work with them and help them to improve,” he added.
Yet 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.
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. But last week, Fifa announced a memorandum of understanding with global players’ union Fifpro confirming that any player exiled from the main group can demand to be released and 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. Rashford is pushing for a start in England’s next match against Panama, with Bukayo Saka also in contention as Declan Rice allays fitness fears. The onus is on keeping the focus there.