Marcus Rashford enjoyed an upturn in form on loan at Barcelona last season but the Manchester United forward still has no certainty over which club he will be playing for in 2026/27
Marcus Rashford’s future is in limbo. The Manchester United academy graduate impressed on loan at Barcelona last season, with many expecting him to stay after his debut campaign in Spain.
The forward contributed to Barca’s La Liga title and Supercopa victory in a brilliant 2025/26 season for Hansi Flick’s side. Rashford‘s form in Catalonia played a key role in England boss Thomas Tuchel calling him up for the Three Lions’ World Cup squad this summer.
But uncertainty surrounds his next destination. Barca have until June 15 to exercise their £26million purchase option to sign him on a permanent deal. Reports in Spanish publication Marca claim they won’t do this and have already moved on after signing Anthony Gordon for more than £69m from Newcastle United.
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The question is: where could Rashford go if the Spanish champions choose, as now looks likely, not to sign him? Premier League sides, including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, who had Rashford on loan for the second half of the previous season, have been linked.
United have no plans to reintegrate the 28-year-old back into their first team, but with no clear destination for him, should they re-consider that stance? Below are the thoughts of journalists at the Manchester Evening News…
Tyrone Marshall
Rashford’s ego must have been hurt when he found out that Barcelona were signing Antony Gordon. That really did come out of nowhere and given the season Rashford had at Barcelona, you can understand his frustration.
That return of 14 goals and 14 assists is a reminder that there is a good player there. In fact, there is a very good player and he won’t be short of suitors this summer.
A return to United should be a non-starter, though. The reasons why he was cast aside by Ruben Amorim have been well documented, and it was a decision backed by the club, not just taken unilaterally by Amorim.
Rashford would have to show a lot of contrition, and there is little evidence of that happening. The other issue is that he no longer fits within the wage structure redrawn by Ineos.
If Rashford was to be a squad player behind Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu, but was taking home twice or even three times as much, it would risk creating friction. This squad is in a good place now and it doesn’t need those problems rearing their head again.
Isaac Seelochan
This is a bruising situation for Rashford. He couldn’t have done much more at Barcelona last season, but their apparent reluctance to sign him speaks volumes.
Money cannot be used as an excuse after Barca shelled out almost £70m on Gordon. Yes, his wages are high, but I’m sure there could be a compromise if both parties wanted this deal to happen.
Ultimately, whatever happens with Barcelona, United need to move him on. No one can say with any confidence that Rashford will find the motivation and form to become an important player for Michael Carrick.
The Reds cannot afford to take any risks and have proven with their current attacking options that they don’t need him. Instead, focus should be on selling him – even to a Premier League rival – with his homegrown status as an academy graduate meaning any sale would be pure profit.
Jack Flintham
It has all gone a bit pear shaped for Rashford. For much of this season, it seemed as though the 28-year-old would make his move to Barcelona permanent. Barca were happy, Rashford was happy and United were happy to let him go and start a new chapter.
Now, that seems to be in ruins. Rashford’s future is up in the air and you cannot see a clear option for him at the moment. If he has a good World Cup, there will undoubtedly be clubs interested in him and I still feel the best route for Rashford and United is for him to leave this summer.
Having said that, United will be wanting a left-sided winger this summer and Rashford can do a job for the Reds on that flank. Ruben Amorim’s exit and Michael Carrick’s arrival also positions Rashford nicely to do an unexpected 180.
However, the main stumbling block will be with the fans. Unlike Alejandro Garnacho, Rashford did not go out of his way to intentionally rile up the United fanbase and he has been largely respectful to the club. But the manner in which things imploded under Amorim has not been forgotten and it will divide opinion if he is given another chance, not least due to his hefty salary.
It still remains in United’s best interests to sell Rashford and continue to usher in a new era at Old Trafford.
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Kieran King
I don’t think Manchester United should allow Marcus Rashford to be part of the first-team group at Old Trafford next season. I believe that ship has sailed and he should move on again, preferably on a permanent basis.
Michael Carrick started to create something special in the second half of the season and he should continue with the same group of players while adding a couple that strengthen the squad both on and off the pitch.
I know Rashford has been a sensation, at times, for United over the years, but he made it clear last summer that he wanted to leave the Reds and I don’t think that mindset is needed in the camp right now.
Carrick should require commitment from every single player and that cannot be guaranteed with Rashford. United would be better off signing someone who is desperate to put on the shirt, such as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo proved last season, rather than bringing back Rashford into the fold.
Although Barcelona is no longer an option for Rashford, I think Bayern Munich could be a suitable next destination for him. He would act as back-up to Luis Diaz in that side and play second-fiddle to Harry Kane up front. It could work as a perfect match if Rashford and Bayern are keen to make it happen.
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