Carrick leaves door open for Rashford return as Mainoo's revival offers blueprint

Marcus Rashford is set to report back to Manchester United for pre-season training after Barcelona opted against triggering their £26 million purchase option, leaving the 28-year-old’s long-term future unresolved — and potentially back at Old Trafford under new manager Michael Carrick.

Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona, contributing 14 goals and 14 assists, but the Spanish club chose to sign Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon to fill his position instead. It was his second successive loan spell away from United, having also spent time at Aston Villa after falling out of favour under former boss Ruben Amorim. United are understood to be unwilling to sanction a third loan move.

Carrick, appointed as Amorim’s permanent successor, has already signalled an openness to reintegrating Rashford. Reports from the start of his tenure in January suggested the manager wanted his former teammate back at the club. When pressed on the matter in April, Carrick stopped short of closing the door.

“I just think there’s decisions to be made in time, really, on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation,” Carrick said. “But at this point in time nothing’s been decided. And it will be, because it has to be at a certain point, but at this stage, there’s nothing to say.”

The situation draws a clear parallel with Kobbie Mainoo’s trajectory under the same managerial shift. The 21-year-old midfielder spent much of Amorim’s tenure at the centre of transfer speculation, but Carrick immediately restored him to the starting XI upon taking charge. Mainoo went on to sign a new five-year contract in April — a turnaround that illustrates how quickly a manager change can alter a player’s standing at the club.

Rashford, for his part, has been focused on the World Cup, where he said he wanted clarity on his club future resolved before the tournament began. “I was very clear with everyone involved before the World Cup, I wanted it done before,” he said. “If it’s not, I wanted it to wait until after. I want to be fully present in the moment. We’re fighting for something special.”

Constructive talks between Rashford’s representatives and United have taken place, and the expectation is that he will return to pre-season. Carrick, who played alongside Rashford during his own time at United, has overseen a marked improvement in results since taking charge, guiding the club back into Champions League contention.