Marcus Rashford might be flying on loan at Barcelona but Manchester United have already moved on from the Carrington graduate.
Last season, Ruben Amorim made the difficult decision to freeze Marcus Rashford out of his first-team squad at Manchester United.
Amorim was critical of Rashford’s work rate and despite leaving the door open for the 27-year-old to work his way back into the squad, he ended up leaving on loan to Aston Villa.
This summer, Rashford joined Barcelona on loan for the 2025/26 season, and United attached a £26m buy option to the deal which signals that his time at Old Trafford is all but over.
Rashford scored twice against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday evening to continue his red-hot form in Barcelona, but United shouldn’t be concerned.
Man United have upgraded on Marcus Rashford
United used the latest summer transfer window to completely overhaul their attacking options. Rashford was not the only forward to leave, with Antony, Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho also heading for the exit.
Ineos invested £232m on five new signings, three of which were forwards. The first deal struck in the window was a £62.5m deal for Matheus Cunha, and the Brazilian is quickly proving he is an upgrade on Rashford.
Cunha was “fantastic” against Liverpool in what was his first trip to Anfield as a United player. His on-ball ability and dribbling helped United frustrate the hosts and defend their lead.
While Cunha is yet to score or assist for United, what he offers in terms of quality and character is priceless.
Paul Scholes was blown away by Cunha at Anfield, and the 26-year-old is also quickly becoming a fan favourite.
Matheus Cunha is only getting started at Man United
During his final years at Old Trafford, Rashford’s attitude at United was poor and his lack of effort in matches became frustrating for fans to watch.
In contrast, Cunha’s work rate has been outstanding despite United being warned about his attitude at Wolves.
Cunha took Rashford’s No.10 shirt at United, and he is settling in brilliantly at Old Trafford. He is already being considered a successful signing despite his wait for a first goal.
Cunha’s comparisons to Eric Cantona tell you everything you need to know about his impact on the squad. He is a player who is never afraid to get on the ball and produce a moment of quality, and that is often an area where Rashford struggled.
Additionally, Cunha suits Amorim’s system perfectly, while Rashford struggled to adapt when played centrally.
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