Rashford's Old Trafford Return Now 'Highly Likely' Following Amorim's Sacking

Marcus Rashford appears destined for a summer homecoming to Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim's Monday sacking fundamentally altering the landscape of the England international's future.

The 27-year-old forward currently finds himself on loan at Barcelona after spending the back end of last season with Aston Villa. While there has been speculation about his desire to remain at Camp Nou permanently, Spanish outlet Sport suggests the Catalan club has little appetite for meeting his €40m buyout clause.

The publication indicates that Barcelona's reluctance to trigger the permanent deal, combined with United's anticipated keenness to retrieve their prized asset under new management, makes Rashford's recall highly probable. United had previously entertained renegotiating the fee downwards, but Amorim's sudden exit has reportedly stiffened the club's resolve in retaining their man.

Owen Hargreaves, the former Red Devils midfielder, has enthusiastically championed Rashford's return. Speaking on TNT Sports, Hargreaves praised the winger's quality whilst suggesting he carried an unfair burden during his time under Amorim.

"I hope Marcus comes back because he's a special player," Hargreaves said. "I don't think there's any denying his talent."

The ex-midfielder argued that Rashford had been positioned as the principal figure in United's rebuild, a role he believes should never have fallen to someone of his age. Hargreaves pointed to the absence of an experienced striker—ideally aged 26-28—as a contributing factor to the pressure placed on younger shoulders.

"In our team, he would've been the third or fourth guy, so he wouldn't have to bare all the responsibility," Hargreaves explained. "There was too much emphasis on these young guys to be the main man, and they should never have found themselves in that position at just 20 years of age."

Hargreaves also reflected on Amorim's brief tenure, which began in November 2024. The Portuguese manager's departure came as a surprise given United's continued viability for a top-four or top-five finish, though Hargreaves acknowledged that boardroom tensions—reminiscent of recent turbulence at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca—may have precipitated the decision.

"The timing of the decision is a surprise, but I guess other things have come to a head which happens at big clubs," Hargreaves said. He suggested that disagreements between Amorim and the United hierarchy, particularly with Jason Wilcox, ultimately proved untenable.

Despite his sympathy for Amorim's predicament, Hargreaves maintained that the manager remains a capable operator. "He's a top manager. He has proven that," Hargreaves noted, whilst acknowledging that the Premier League's intensity and Manchester United's demanding standards presented a different proposition to his previous success in Portugal.

Hargreaves concluded by wishing Amorim well, expressing confidence that his communication skills and intelligence will serve him well in future endeavours, even if his Old Trafford experiment failed to materialise as envisioned.