Marcus Rashford did not give the impression of a man consumed by concerns about his future as he trained in heat that climbed above 30C in Kansas City on Monday. For at least 15 minutes, when cameras were allowed in, the England forward linked up with Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney, Djed Spence, Eberechi Eze and Anthony Gordon in a passing drill, his focus fixed on Wednesday's World Cup Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas. The onus is on keeping that focus there, because Monday brought no news Rashford was unaware of anyway: the deadline Barcelona agreed with Manchester United to trigger a £26m clause to turn his loan into a permanent deal passed without 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. In theory, he could resume his career at his boyhood club. Head coach Michael Carrick, a former team-mate and coach, knows him well. When asked about Rashford in April, Carrick said no decision had been made about the attacker's future, adding: "Whoever's here, I want to work with them and help them to improve."
“Barcelona decline to activate £26m purchase option for Marcus Rashford, leaving him to return to Manchester United amid a FIFA rule change that could force his release.”
Yet the summer squad rebuilding plans are being pieced together in the belief Rashford will not be part of them. Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to bring wage costs down, a task made difficult by the forward's huge salary. United gave Rashford's number 10 shirt to Matheus Cunha last season and are hardly likely to take it off the Brazilian. Twelve months ago, former manager Ruben Amorim placed Rashford in his 'bomb squad', forcing him to train at different times to the main group, a tactic that proved effective in prompting exits for Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony.
But that approach could prove considerably more costly now. FIFA has recently unveiled a memorandum of understanding with players' union Fifpro, enabling any player banished from the first-team squad to lodge a breach-of-contract complaint and demand to be released, with the club forced to settle the balance of the contract. For Rashford, that would amount to roughly £30m given he has two years left on his deal. It is fair to assume ostracising Rashford this season is off the agenda.
Rashford wrapped up a hugely successful season-long loan at Barcelona, clinching La Liga glory while chipping in with 14 goals and 14 assists. Despite that, Barcelona made clear they would not sign him permanently, having instead recruited England colleague Anthony Gordon in a £70m deal. So Rashford's immediate future is unclear as he heads into the World Cup, with United's plans and the new FIFA regulations adding layers of uncertainty to the next chapter.