Marcus Rashford's Future at Manchester United: Sell or Keep?
Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United future hangs in the balance, and the warnings are getting louder.
On the books he is still a United player. In reality, he sits in that uneasy space between eras – widely expected to move on, yet still close enough to matter. The market has not rushed to meet his name. Barcelona passed on a permanent deal. No serious bid has yet landed at Old Trafford. The noise has been louder than the offers.
Into that uncertainty steps Rene Meulensteen, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant, with a message that cuts through the speculation: sell Rashford if you must, but not to a Premier League rival.
“It could really hurt you”
Speaking to Andy’s Bet Club, Meulensteen was asked whether offloading Rashford might echo United’s decision to sell Scott McTominay – a move that has since seen the midfielder thrive at Napoli and prompted questions over United’s judgment.
“Would selling Marcus Rashford be a repeat of selling Scott McTominay?” he reflected, before drawing a sharp distinction.
“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.”
That is the crux of his warning. Rashford, even after an uneven spell, still carries the kind of match-winning threat that can tilt title races and top-four battles. To hand that weapon to a domestic rival, Meulensteen believes, would be reckless.
Tottenham Hotspur have already been linked with a £30 million move, a figure that underlines how far Rashford’s stock has dipped from his peak but still places him firmly in the “dangerous if he clicks” category for any Premier League club.
Saudi, MLS… or another Champions League giant?
If England is a risk, the alternative is clear: look abroad.
Meulensteen floated several paths, including a move to the Saudi Pro League or MLS, but also left the door open to another heavyweight in Europe’s elite.
“Saudi Arabia could be an option for Rashford depending on what he wants,” he said. “Perhaps one of the other big clubs will sign him so he can keep playing in the Champions League. Or he might make a move to Saudi or maybe the MLS, who knows?”
The options tell their own story. At 26, Rashford is not at the typical age for a Saudi or MLS switch, but his situation is anything but typical. A fresh start at a Champions League club would keep him at the sharp end of European football. A move outside Europe would offer a reset of a different kind – and remove the risk of United being punished by their own academy graduate in domestic competition.
Carrick, clarity and a possible way back
For all the talk of exits, there remains a scenario in which Rashford stays and is rebuilt under Michael Carrick.
Carrick, now tasked with shaping United’s attack, is seen by Meulensteen as the type of manager who would both value Rashford’s qualities and demand absolute clarity over his role and attitude.
“Michael Carrick is the type of person who recognises Marcus’s qualities,” Meulensteen said. “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.”
That delay is telling. If a clean break truly suits both sides, United must decide where to draw the line. Keep him and commit. Or sell him and protect themselves from self-inflicted damage.
A new-look United attack
Part of the equation is simply footballing reality. United’s attack is already being reshaped.
Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo headline the forward options, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount often operating in the pockets behind the main striker. Patrick Dorgu, reinvented by Carrick as a left-winger, delivered crucial goals last season before injury halted his momentum.
This is not a squad built around Rashford. It is a squad that could absorb his departure – but would still feel his best version if he turned up in the colours of Arsenal, Chelsea or Spurs.
Pre-season friendlies remain on the calendar, and with them a narrowing window for decisions. Rashford’s name still carries weight. The question now is simple: will United cash in, and if they do, can they afford to watch him light up the same league from the wrong dugout?
