Marcus Rashford is due to report for pre‑season training at Carrington around August 10 after a spell away from the club, having lost his Manchester United shirt number to Matheus Cunha
Marcus Rashford is edging closer to a return to Manchester United, with his future still to be resolved. The forward, who featured for England at the World Cup, is expected to report for pre‑season next month around August 10 after spending last season on loan at Barcelona.
Barcelona held a £26million option to make his move permanent but chose not to activate it, instead signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United in a £69m (€80m) deal including add‑ons.
Rashford enjoyed a successful spell in Spain, winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup before linking up with England for the World Cup. Despite making only two starts, including a semi‑final cameo against Argentina, he is now taking a break before returning to Carrington for pre‑season.
United historically grant players who have competed at international tournaments at least three weeks off. The Manchester Evening News understands the club have held positive talks with Rashford’s camp and are comfortable with him reporting back for pre‑season.
Michael Carrick is open to reintegrating Rashford back into the squad, having played alongside him, coached him and briefly managed him. But the question hanging over Rashford’s return is which shirt he will be wearing.
Prior to leaving United for loan spells at Aston Villa and then Barcelona, Rashford wore the number 10 shirt. However, that number was handed to Matheus Cunha last summer when he completed his £62.5m move from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
At Villa, he wore the number nine shirt, and in La Liga he switched to 14 – both numbers currently unassigned at United. New summer arrival Andrey Santos has taken 17, while Youri Tielemans has been handed 18.
Throughout his career, the England international has predominantly worn the number 10 shirt, while he used the number nine at under‑18, under‑19 and under‑21 level.
Rasmus Hojlund was the last wearer of the number nine after switching from no.11 in 2024, but the Denmark international completed his move to Napoli earlier in the summer, so it is up for grabs once again.
Other squad numbers available are 14, 17 and 21 which are yet to be re‑assigned after Christian Eriksen, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony left the club.
Number 20 is also vacant because Diogo Dalot switched to number two when it became available following Victor Lindelof’s exit.
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Numbers 27, 28, 29 and 34 remain unoccupied as well. They were last worn by Wout Weghorst, Facundo Pellistri, Aaron Wan‑Bissaka and Donny van de Beek respectively.
It remains to be seen which number Rashford will choose from the available options, though opting for the number nine would only make sense if he stays at the club beyond the summer.
With the window open until September 3, plenty can still change but Carrick has already hinted the door is open for Rashford’s return, having addressed his future at the end of last season.
“I just think there are decisions to be made in time, really, on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation,” said Carrick. “But at this point in time, nothing’s been decided. And it will be, because it has to be at a certain point, but at this stage, there’s nothing to say.”
When asked whether it was a case of never closing the door on players, Carrick responded: “Yeah, I’m not going on the Marcus individual one, because I think, like I’ve already touched on, I think to comment either way at this stage is just not the right thing to do, because there’s uncertainties, for sure.
“But for me, as I said, individual players who I’m able to work with in this part of the squad then I enjoy doing that, and trying to get the best out of them.”
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