Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future after the World Cup, with Barcelona passing on the opportunity to sign the Manchester United forward for £26m earlier this month.
With the 2026 World Cup underway, Marcus Rashford won’t be thinking too much about where he will be playing his football next season.
Thomas Tuchel opted to start Anthony Gordon on the left wing ahead of the 28-year-old against Croatia, but the United academy graduate came off the bench to score his fifth World Cup goal in the second half.
With a bit of luck, Rashford can have a positive World Cup and attract more interest in the transfer market, but a return to Old Trafford would be far from ideal for the club.
Who has been Manchester United’s best performer after one group game has been played?
Plenty of strong displays to choose from…
Biggest stumbling block for Marcus Rashford at Man Utd
Although Michael Carrick has never gone on the record on the matter, United’s head coach would probably welcome Rashford back with open arms.
Carrick worked with Rashford as a coach before he went on to take the Middlesbrough job.
However, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth claims the ‘big stumbling block’ preventing United from wanting to take Rashford back is his wages.
Rashford’s salary will return to £325k per week now that United are back in the Champions League.
“The big stumbling block here is Manchester United qualifying for the Champions League, I’ve heard has triggered an increase in the wages of every one of their players,” Sheth said on the Transfer Talk podcast.
“Now, Marcus Rashford is on huge, huge money at United. One source has told us it could be as much as £325,000 a week that he would be on, now that United are back in the Champions League.
“Now, is he going to start at United number one? We don’t know. So, do you continue paying 325,000 pounds a week for someone who’s not going to start?
“Or do they want to just draw a line under the whole situation? They need to be careful here, United, because they need to be in a position where publicly they’re saying, yep, we’ll welcome Marcus Rashford back. Because if they don’t do that, then they know that clubs who want to sign Marcus Rashford have got a little bit of leeway there.”
This context matters when United fans are debating whether Rashford should be brought back into the team.
At that level of money, it would be extremely costly for the club, which is why they have a clear preference to find Rashford a new club this summer.
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- The main reason Manchester United don’t want Marcus Rashford back is his wages
- It remains to be seen what clubs are seriously interested in signing the United forward after the 2026 World Cup
- Rashford will earn £325k a week at United otherwise
Man Utd’s Premier League fixtures for 2026/27 have now been CONFIRMED – What do you think?
Marcus Rashford becomes target for Saudi Pro League clubs
There have been whispers that Bayern Munich and Chelsea are admirers of Rashford, but it remains to be seen if they are serious enough to make a formal offer to sign him from United.
It has now emerged that Saudi Pro League clubs Al-Qadsiah, Al-Hilal and Diriyah have all made contact with Rashford’s representatives to discuss a possible move to the Middle East.
Ben Jacobs told The United Stand: “There is Saudi and Turkish interest, though, in Marcus Rashford. Fenerbahce have looked in the past, I’m not aware of an approach to Manchester United prior to the window opening. But they were keeping an eye on the situation in January.
“And then, in Saudi Arabia, there’s two or three clubs to keep an eye on. Al-Qadsiah have looked before and they are a very interesting Saudi team, because they are not relying only on ministry funding.
“So they are one to watch because they are looking for another attacker. You also have the possibility of Al-Hilal strengthening in wide areas. At this stage Al-Hilal are clarifying their sporting team under a new private owner.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
