Marcus Rashford is back at Manchester United as the new Premier League campaign approaches, having spent time on loan in Spain with Barcelona.
The 28-year-old’s teammates have spoken positively about his conduct since arriving back at the club. Rashford had been looking to leave Old Trafford, but signs increasingly point to him staying put at United.
During the tenures of both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, Rashford fell out of favour and was sent out on temporary deals to Aston Villa and then Barcelona. There were expectations he would be offloaded during the recent transfer window, yet no move has materialised. Rashford has now resumed training with the squad, featuring in United’s final pre-season match, a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan, and has been guiding younger players such as JJ Gabriel and Shea Lacey.
Sources indicate that his attempts to settle back in, combined with his work with Michael Carrick’s youth programme, have left the hierarchy highly impressed. The England international excelled during his time in Spain, helping Barcelona secure the La Liga crown and the Supercopa, but the Catalan side declined to trigger a £26million purchase option. Rashford could now feature when United begin their league campaign against Hull City.
The unsuccessful switch to Barcelona appears not to have dented his morale, with fellow players noticing his exemplary approach. Youri Tielemans worked alongside Rashford during his time at Villa and has dismissed allegations about his dedication.
Tielemans stated that Rashford possesses exceptional abilities, highlighting his technique, pace, and striking. He noted that what most struck him was Rashford’s commitment, contradicting reports suggesting he lacked passion or proper motivation. According to Tielemans, Rashford was thoroughly professional, worked diligently, and maintained a positive attitude with everyone around him, simply being a regular professional.
Tielemans also mentioned that Rashford still requires backing from colleagues to rediscover his best form. Defender Harry Maguire expressed hope that the club would retain him, describing the attacking threat restored by his availability as significant. Maguire noted that Rashford troubled the opposition defence when introduced and could have found the net, adding that his presence constitutes a major danger. Maguire has shared a dressing room with Rashford for several years and believes having him available will benefit the team considerably.
Nassair Mazraoui also welcomed United’s summer recruitment and described Rashford’s homecoming as a crucial boost for the season should he stay.
However, the decisive view comes from Rashford’s new manager Carrick. The United head coach reported that the striker returned in excellent spirits but is being assessed on identical terms to every other squad member. It is understood Carrick engaged in detailed conversations with Rashford throughout the transfer window and is eager for him to remain at Old Trafford despite reported interest from elsewhere.