Marcus Rashford's New Chapter at Manchester United
Marcus Rashford looks set to be handed a fresh chapter at Manchester United under Michael Carrick.
The forward travelled with United’s squad to Dublin for Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United but stayed on the bench, a quiet presence on a night when his future felt anything but.
Carrick, though, left little doubt about where he stands.
“He's our player. He's come back great, like any other player. I've known him a long time, he gives us something a bit different,” the United head coach said. “He's been in great spirits since he's been back, he's been back two or three days.”
After a year away, Rashford is suddenly back in the frame.
Back from Barcelona, back in the picture
Rashford, now 28, has not played a competitive game for United since December 2024. His career has zigzagged over the past 18 months: six months at Aston Villa, then a season-long loan at Barcelona, where he forced his way into a title-winning side.
In Spain, he rebuilt his reputation. Eight goals and seven assists in 32 LaLiga appearances, plus five goals and three assists in the Champions League, underlined his value at the highest level. He returned to Carrington this week after World Cup duty, carrying both medals and momentum.
That form did not go unnoticed in England. Several Premier League clubs circled earlier in the transfer window, with Tottenham Hotspur among those linked with a move. United, though, have held firm so far, and Carrick’s words suggest the door to a permanent exit is not swinging open just yet.
A reunion with an old boss
Rashford’s first real audition for Carrick could come on Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland, when United face AC Milan in their final pre-season friendly. The fixture already had weight in United’s preparations; now it carries a sub-plot.
On the opposite bench will be Ruben Amorim, the former United manager who froze Rashford out at Old Trafford before the forward’s departure. The prospect is sharp: Rashford, in a red shirt again, trying to impress the man who once decided he was surplus to requirements.
He did not get a minute against Leeds. He may get much more than that against Milan.
For a player who has spent the last year proving himself abroad, the stage is set for the next verdict to be delivered much closer to home.
