Man United academy graduate Marcus Rashford has spent the 2025/26 season on loan with Barcelona.
Rashford has spent the season with Barcelona.(Image: 2026 Icon Sport)
Michael Carrick did not rule out Marcus Rashford returning to Manchester United when asked whether the door is open for the forward to play for his boyhood club again. Rashford has spent the season on loan with Barcelona, who have the option to sign him permanently.
Barcelona’s option to sign Rashford on a permanent transfer for £26million (€30m) is valid after the end of the season, but there has been noise from Spain suggesting Barca would like to negotiate a lower fee.
United have taken an early stance by outlining that Barcelona must pay the agreed £26m fee if they want to sign the forward. However, Carrick did not rule out involving Rashford in his plans if he was given the United job.
Click here to find out the latest Manchester United news in our daily newsletter
Asked if the door was open for Rashford, he said: “I just think there’s decisions to be made in time, really, on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation. But at this point in time, nothing’s been decided.
“And it will be, because it has to be at a certain point, but at this stage, there’s nothing to say.”
When asked whether it was a case of never closing doors with players, Carrick responded: “Yeah, I’m not going on the Marcus individual one, because I think, like I’ve already touched on, I think to comment either way at this stage is just not the right thing to do, because there’s uncertainties, for sure.
“But for me, as I said, individual players who I’m able to work with in this part of the squad then I enjoy doing that, and trying to get the best out of them.”
Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire have become important players for United again, despite both having faced challenging periods at different times, so it was put to Carrick that they are examples of players who show Rashford could have a comeback of his own.
“Certainly from my perspective, whoever’s here, I want to work with, make the best out of, and help them improve. So, at the moment, it’s this squad of players, and there’s obviously players on loan, and whatever happens with that later on will happen with that later on,” he said.
“But certainly, as a coach, and as a leader of a squad, that we want to get the best out of everyone as much as we possibly can, for sure, yeah.”
United want to strengthen the left wing, where Rashford plays.
“There’s kind of stages to go through in terms of the summer. There’s decisions to be made,” said Carrick of conversations over signings. “Timing’s a thing and obviously my situation’s one thing. So it’s just working through that. There are certainly conversations as we go because that’s natural, but in terms of an official kind of, this is what’s going to happen exactly, that’s not something that I’ve committed to recruitment-wise.
“But we certainly had conversations and that’s just natural, but not really making a big thing of it, to be honest. I think that’ll happen in time anyway.”
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
2026-04-17 21:30:00
