Marcus Rashford’s future of Manchester United is still a huge uncertainty despite the fact he looked set to depart Old Trafford this summer
Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has warned the club may get stung if they sell Marcus Rashford to a Premier League rival. Rashford, 28, remains a United player after Barcelona chose not to exercise their option to buy him permanently.
He has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal, all of whom are direct Premier League rivals to United. Spurs were recently described as the ‘most likely’ destination for the England international, following links to a £30million move to north London.It’s understood Rashford could still be re-integrated into Michael Carrick’s side this summer. In Meulensteen’s view, this may be preferable, as he believes the United academy graduate could make his former side pay if he is sold to another Premier League side.
FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page
Speaking to Andy’s Bet Club, Meulensteen, when asked if the situation could be similar to United’s decision to sell Scott McTominay, who has gone on to star for Napoli, replied: “Would selling Marcus Rashford be a repeat of selling Scott McTominay?
“I don’t think people see Scott McTominay the same way. He moved because the club wanted to sell, and he has done brilliantly since. People might wonder if United sold him too early.
“But selling Marcus Rashford to a direct competitor like Arsenal or Chelsea could really hurt you. He is still a player who can make a difference. Ideally, if United sell him, they should sell him abroad.”
Meulensteen also encouraged Carrick to have a dialogue with Rashford to see where his head is at and how he could be of use to the Reds. He added: “Michael Carrick is the type of person who recognises Marcus’s qualities.
“They need an open conversation so Marcus understands what is required. Michael Carrick won’t want to bring someone back if it creates another problem. If the clarity is there, he would be happy to bring him back into the fold.
“However, with the other players available, there wouldn’t be a guaranteed start every week. The fact that it is taking so long to find clarity suggests there is still something brewing in the background. If all parties were happy for him to come back, they would likely have made that clear very quickly.”
In terms of attacking options, United’s main threats are Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount often operating in the space behind the striker.
Patrick Dorgu was also repackaged as a left-winger under Carrick, where he scored many key goals before injury sapped his momentum last season. United still have more pre-season friendlies to play.
They face Atletico Madrid in Stockholm tomorrow, Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8, Leeds United in Dublin on the 12th and AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland on the 15th, before their Premier League campaign begins against Hull City on August 22nd.
Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
Official premium experiences at Old Trafford are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login