Nicky Butt values Rashford's United return at £70m as redemption story takes shape

Marcus Rashford has returned to Manchester United’s first-team fold under Michael Carrick, featuring in the club’s opening two Premier League fixtures after loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona that many believed had ended his time at Old Trafford for good.

The 27-year-old had not played a competitive game for United since December 2024, when then-manager Ruben Amorim dropped him and issued a public ultimatum. Amorim had said at the time: “Our team should be so much better with Rashford but he has to change. If he changes, we are more than welcome to put in a talent like Rashford and we need it.”

The most visible sign of Rashford’s fall from grace came last summer, when his No. 10 shirt was handed to new signing Matheus Cunha. Yet the club opened the door to a pre-season reintegration, and Rashford was greeted by a warm reception from supporters on his return to Old Trafford — a moment that surprised many given the circumstances of his departure.

Former United midfielder Nicky Butt believes the club stands to benefit enormously if the winger can rediscover his best form. Speaking to Midnite, Butt said: “Are we witnessing the start of a good redemption story with Marcus Rashford? You’d like to think so. It’d be a really nice story for someone to have had such a bad time for a couple of years at United.”

Butt drew a direct comparison to the sport’s elite. “He’s come through the academy as a superstar and potentially could have been — should be — up there with the likes of Mbappe,” he said. “He went away, did okay at Villa, went away, did well at Barcelona, and then it went sour for him. The reception he’s got is amazing. You think about it because there’s not many clubs that give a player a reception like that when he’s walked away.”

The former midfielder was equally candid about the scrutiny Rashford will face. “The thing with Marcus is he has to be on it every single minute of the day because the minute he steps his foot off the pedal, there will be critics,” Butt added. “But he is without doubt a £70 million signing to come back.”

Rashford is contracted to remain at United until at least January, when the transfer window reopens and other clubs will be able to make formal approaches. For now, his focus appears to be on cementing his place in Carrick’s squad and rebuilding a reputation that took a significant hit over the past 18 months.