Marcus Rashford’s World Cup ended with a social media post that urged fans to “keep believing” and promised to return “a better version of myself”. But the 28-year-old’s most significant reflection will be on his club future: whether it lies at Manchester United.
Rashford is contracted to United until 2028 on £325,000 a week, making him the club’s top earner at a time when minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is trying to control salary costs. Barcelona had an option to turn last season’s loan into a permanent £26m transfer, but that deadline passed in mid-June without being activated. Another clause allowing other clubs – except Liverpool and Manchester City – to buy him for £40m expired earlier in July. Sources close to the player said it was illogical to think any club would offer more than Barcelona would have paid.
“Rashford faces uncertain future at Man Utd as contract clauses expire; Lammens backed after World Cup error; Stormzy leaks new away kit.”
Now entitled to a three-week break, Rashford is expected to return to United just as they begin a training camp in Ireland, ahead of a historic meeting with Leeds at Croke Park on 12 August. Suggestions are that he is relaxed about returning, partly because his relationship with coach Ruben Amorim – who fell out with the forward within weeks of arriving from Sporting – is no longer confrontational.
Meanwhile, United teammate Senne Lammens is also recovering from World Cup disappointment. The 24-year-old goalkeeper was back-up to Thibaut Courtois for Belgium until Courtois was injured late in the quarter-final against Spain. Lammens had barely touched the ball before spilling Pau Cubarsi’s shot, allowing Arsenal’s Mikel Merino to score the winner. He was distraught at the final whistle. Veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton said he spoke to Lammens: “It was obviously a challenging moment for him, but that’s the life of a goalkeeper. He’ll be stronger for it.” Heaton added that Lammens’ personality is “fantastic” and that confidence in him remains strong at United, despite criticism in Belgium. Lammens is also on a three-week break and should return for the friendly against Paris St-Germain on 8 August.
And while both players contemplate their next steps, United’s new away kit has been leaked – not by the club, but by rapper Stormzy. During the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, Stormzy shared snaps on Instagram showing a bold blue shirt with red and white trim, featuring adidas’ classic trefoil logo and a subtle wave pattern. He captioned it: “@Man Utd you’ve seen it here first.” It is not the first time Stormzy has been trusted with United secrets: he previously learned of Paul Pogba’s return to Old Trafford before the public, calling it “the biggest secret on the planet”. The rapper, a self-proclaimed “Cockney Red”, said his support for United came from himself: “When I was younger I didn’t have a big brother or like a dad who supported United so it all kinda came from me.”