United reject fresh Barcelona loan and invite agents to seal Rashford's permanent exit

Manchester United have told Barcelona they will not entertain a second loan deal for Marcus Rashford, with the club now actively seeking a permanent transfer for the England forward this summer, according to a report from ESPN.

Rashford, 27, spent last season at the Nou Camp, contributing 14 goals and 14 assists across 49 appearances in all competitions. Despite that productive spell, Barcelona chose not to activate the £26 million purchase option embedded in the original loan agreement, which expired earlier this week.

With a return to Catalonia on a temporary basis now off the table from United’s perspective, the club has moved to accelerate a clean break. ESPN reports that United have “invited” agents to approach them with credible permanent destinations for Rashford, signalling that the club are ready to listen to serious offers rather than wait out another season-long arrangement.

Rashford is currently with the England squad at the 2026 World Cup in North America, and his form on the international stage may yet strengthen his market value heading into what is shaping up to be a defining summer for his career.

England manager Thomas Tuchel handed Rashford an opportunity from the bench in the team’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday, and the forward responded by scoring the fourth goal to help seal the win.

Tuchel was effusive in his praise of Rashford after the match, highlighting a marked improvement in the forward’s attitude and application since arriving in camp.

“He struggled for us to be decisive when he started, but he was always trying and got a bit unlucky for a long time,” Tuchel told reporters. “We just had a talk where I told him that I’m very, very impressed with his last 16 days — how he was in camp, how he pushes on the field. He is totally invested in every meeting. He is very, very fast in translating a meeting onto the pitch, what we want tactically.”

Tuchel added that Rashford had been pushing hard for a starting berth in competition with Anthony Gordon, and expressed hope that the goal against Croatia could prove a turning point. “I was so happy that he was the one to unlock this long spell where he was not decisive for us from within the game, and hopefully he can keep this up.”

United’s insistence on a permanent deal reflects the club’s broader desire to move on from a difficult chapter. Rashford publicly stated his wish to sign for Barcelona on a full-time basis during his loan, making a return to Old Trafford appear unlikely regardless of how the summer’s negotiations unfold.