Marcus Rashford’s £40 million Manchester United exit clause has expired, meaning any potential sale will now require direct negotiation. The player, who has been with England at the World Cup, is currently contracted at Old Trafford until 2028. Approaches for the forward will now be considered by all involved parties.
Rashford spent the last season on loan at Barcelona. The Spanish club had an option to make the move permanent, but they ultimately chose not to exercise it. Sources familiar with the situation, who spoke anonymously, indicated that Rashford has declined other proposals, some of which offered more lucrative terms than his current deal. The exit clause was not applicable to United’s rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool.
During his time at Barcelona last season, Rashford made 49 appearances across all competitions, contributing 14 goals and 14 assists. It is anticipated that his role at Barcelona for the upcoming season will be filled by England teammate Anthony Gordon, following his arrival from Newcastle United.
Return to Manchester United
Rashford is expected to rejoin Manchester United after the World Cup, with plans for him to be part of Michael Carrick’s squad for the new season. His last appearance for United was in a Europa League victory against Viktoria Pilzen in December 2024. A three-week break is scheduled for Rashford after England’s World Cup campaign, after which he is set to return for pre-season training.
United’s preference is to reduce their wage expenses, which includes Rashford’s salary. However, there is a reported lack of suitable clubs interested in acquiring him. Following his loan spell at Aston Villa in January 2025, Rashford moved to Barcelona for the 2025-26 season. After scoring in Barcelona’s victory against Real Madrid in May, which secured the La Liga title, Rashford expressed a desire to remain with the club. Barcelona instead signed Anthony Gordon, whose preferred position is also on the left wing. United has no current plans for another temporary transfer for Rashford.
The relationship between Rashford and United reportedly became strained after he was substituted in the 56th minute during the match against Pilzen by then-head coach Ruben Amorim. Amorim subsequently did not consider Rashford for selection, later explaining that performance in training, games, and engagement with teammates are important factors.
Pre-Season Preparations and Squad Additions
United’s pre-season training is scheduled to begin on Thursday, with six friendly matches planned before the start of the new campaign. The first match is against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July, which is the day before the World Cup final. Subsequent fixtures include matches against Rosenborg in Trondheim on 24 July, Atlético Madrid in Stockholm on 1 August, Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on 8 August, Leeds in Dublin on 12 August, and Milan in Wroclaw on 15 August. The Premier League season is set to commence a week later with a trip to Hull. If England reaches the World Cup final, Rashford’s earliest return to United would be 10 August.
Carrick was appointed as the permanent head coach in May, having initially taken over from Amorim as caretaker in January. He successfully guided United back into the Champions League with a third-place finish. Carrick has expressed his anticipation for the upcoming season, stating that the team possesses the capability to compete with the best in the league and aims to contend for every available trophy.
United has reached an agreement with Chelsea for the transfer of Andrey Santos. Terms have been agreed with the midfielder, who has six caps for Brazil. Santos was not part of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad that was eliminated by Norway in the last 16 of the World Cup on Sunday. Carrick’s midfield options are also expected to be strengthened by Éderson, who is in line to join from Atlanta. The player, who came on as a substitute for Brazil in their defeat by Norway, is yet to complete a medical. Carrick is also interested in adding another midfielder with established experience, with Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton being considered.
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Source: nytimes.com
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”