Shearer tells Carrick not to bother convincing Rashford to stay at Manchester United

Alan Shearer has advised Michael Carrick against attempting to convince Marcus Rashford to stay at Manchester United this summer, insisting too much has happened at the club for a reconciliation to be realistic.

Rashford, 28, will return to United after the World Cup following Barcelona’s decision not to activate their £26 million purchase option. The La Liga club opted instead to sign Anthony Gordon in a £69 million deal, leaving the England forward without a permanent destination heading into the transfer window.

Shearer, speaking in his role as a pundit, was blunt about the situation. “I don’t think it will be difficult for Rashford to focus on his game at the World Cup because ultimately he has a contract at Man United, albeit they don’t want him and he doesn’t want to be there,” he said. “Things will get sorted. I think both may be playing a game. Barcelona may be testing Man United by refusing to pay what they want and then it’ll get so late into the transfer window and Man United won’t want him in their squad.”

Rashford’s relationship with the club deteriorated under Ruben Amorim, who dropped him from the first-team picture during the 2024/25 season. The forward first moved to Aston Villa on loan before joining Barcelona for the entirety of the following campaign, where he flourished under Hansi Flick.

With Carrick now installed as United manager for 2025/26, some have speculated that a fresh start at Old Trafford could be possible. Shearer, however, remains unconvinced. “If I were Michael Carrick, I probably wouldn’t try and convince him to stay at Man United because I think too much may have gone on before,” he said. “Too much has happened at Man United. I know they’re under a different manager now, but it’s the same owners. I’d be really, really surprised if he were to stay.”

Rashford came through United’s academy in 2015 and spent the better part of a decade at the club before his exit earlier this year. His future is now expected to be resolved in the summer window, with United likely to seek a permanent sale rather than reintegrate him into Carrick’s squad.