Barcelona decline £26m option as United push for permanent Rashford sale

Marcus Rashford’s loan spell at Barcelona has ended without a permanent deal after the Catalan club declined to trigger their £26m purchase option, leaving Manchester United to pursue alternative buyers for the winger from Tuesday.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Barcelona decided against activating the clause before Monday’s deadline, prompting Rashford to formally return to Old Trafford. United management is now actively seeking a permanent sale, with club leadership eager to remove his £325,000-a-week salary from the wage bill to protect a newly established pay structure.

The club’s position is clear: Rashford will not be reintegrated into the first-team squad under head coach Michael Carrick. United’s hierarchy also believes his wages are difficult to justify for a player who would not command a guaranteed starting role ahead of existing options such as Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu.

While Barcelona have indicated they would be open to discussing a fresh loan arrangement, United are firmly prioritising a permanent exit over another temporary departure. The distinction matters — a loan would do nothing to resolve the salary burden that United are determined to shed.

Bayern Munich have entered the picture as a potential destination, though Rashford’s wage demands represent a significant obstacle for the Bundesliga club. No formal offer has been reported.

Despite the uncertainty, Rashford himself has not given up on a return to Spain. Marca reported on Sunday that the England international remains hopeful of rejoining Barcelona this summer, and Hansi Flick personally told the winger he is counting on him — a signal that the door is not entirely closed on a renewed arrangement, even if the financial terms would need to change considerably.

Rashford, a product of United’s academy, spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Camp Nou after his relationship broke down with former manager Ruben Amorim. His future now hinges on whether a club can meet both United’s demand for a permanent fee and the player’s salary expectations.