- Marcus Rashford move to Barcelona in major doubt
- Catalan side in talks to sign Anthony Gordon instead
- A return to Old Trafford is very unlikely given burnt bridges
The transfer saga around Marcus Rashford over the last few months has never quite reached an amicable resolution between FC Barcelona and Manchester United.
Despite a relatively low option to buy, the Spanish side have always seems reluctant to pull the trigger on a move to make Rashford’s stay a more permanent one. There have been no problems with form or character.
In 2025/26, the on-loan winger played 49 times for Barca, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists. His stunning free kick against Real Madrid helped seal the La Liga title for his club against their bitter rivals.
Yet, recent developments in the transfer market suggest that a return to Manchester may be on the cards.
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Return to Old Trafford “Seems Remote”
According to Laurie Whitwell via The Athletic, the possibility of Rashford returning to Old Trafford feels “remote”. The implications of Barcelona’s £69m bid for Anthony Gordon being accepted by Newcastle United have had serious ramifications for Rashford’s future.
Barcelona have heavily contemplated the option to buy the United winger at around £25m as part of the loan deal. The La Liga side has tried to negotiate the price down too, but the Reds have refused to budge.
Whitewell stated that a permanent move to Spain was the “outcome hoped for” by Rashford, who has not been shy to publicly talk about his intentions to stay in Barcelona. There is still some hope left for the 28-year-old, as Hansi Flick’s side have “until June 15 to trigger the €30m option to buy”.
Though the arrival of Gordon is pending a medical at this stage. It ultimately means that a move for Rashford is “unlikely” to happen “if Gordon is already on the books”.
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Could Barcelona Keep Him?
The possibility of another loan move is still an option. United have made it clear that this is not a route that they want to go down again. The Reds have already loaned the academy graduate out to Aston Villa before, and would like his wage bill of the balance sheets permanently.
Rashford would return to England as one of the club’s highest earners, despite not having a pathway to the starting eleven. Matheus Cunha owns the left wing role, with Patrick Dorgu as deputy. In the number nine position, Benjamin Sesko has had an impressive season that would suggest he enters 2026/27 as the starting striker.
As Whitewell says, the biggest factors blocking a return to Old Trafford is “given his earnings and the finality of his previous departures”. Rashford was part of the ‘bomb squad’ cast by Ruben Amorim.
However, Michael Carrick is much more receptive to the England star, having worked with him previously at the club. Even then, it feels like both parties have mentally moved on from their time together. It would be in the best interest of both the club and player to part ways – even if Spain isn’t the final destination.
