Carrick's Intervention Could Keep Rashford at Old Trafford

Manchester United appear to be reconsidering their hardline position on Marcus Rashford, with manager Michael Carrick believed to be pushing for the winger to remain at Old Trafford.

The England international has been absent from United action since December 2024 following his falling-out with Ruben Amorim. Loan moves to Aston Villa and Barcelona followed, with Rashford delivering respectable numbers at the Catalan club—14 goals and 14 assists across all competitions last season.

Yet Barcelona's interest in making the deal permanent has cooled significantly. Despite the option to buy Rashford for €30m (£26m), the Spanish side opted instead to splash £70m on fellow countryman Anthony Gordon from Newcastle. While Barcelona remain open to another temporary arrangement, United have consistently maintained they want only a permanent sale, with various clubs monitoring the situation.

The Red Devils had seemingly drawn a line under Rashford, actively pursuing West Ham's Crycensio Summerville as their left-wing target for the upcoming campaign.

However, fresh reporting suggests the landscape has shifted. According to recent claims, Rashford and his representatives haven't entirely abandoned hopes of Barcelona returning to the negotiating table later in summer. Crucially though, should the Barcelona move collapse, the player would rather see out the final two years of his contract at United than join another Premier League club—a stipulation that applies to all interested parties except Manchester City and Liverpool, who face a £40m barrier.

This preference could prove decisive. Should Rashford remain a United player upon returning to Carrington after the World Cup, and should other clubs refuse to meet United's demands, the prospect of him staying becomes genuine.

That scenario has gained traction following Carrick's reported intervention. The United boss is said to be enthusiastic about working with Rashford to restore him to peak form. Speaking after meeting Carrick at the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year awards at the Landmark Hotel, Bayern Munich insider Christian Falk suggested United now harbour notions of retaining the winger heading into the new season—a marked departure from their previous stance.

Bayern are unlikely to enter the race for Rashford, Falk added, but Carrick's straightforward approach and willingness to invest in the player's rehabilitation could prove the catalyst for a fresh start at Old Trafford.