Marcus Rashford’s future looks more uncertain than ever, with reports in Spain claiming his place at Barcelona is “at risk”, though he has been offered a lifeline by Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick.
Rashford is a figure well used to being headline news, though his appearance on the front page of Sport on Saturday along with Robert Lewandowski was not a welcome one for the England international star.
The Catalan paper boldly declares that the two forwards are “at risk” of having their Barcelona careers ended this summer.
While Lewandowski has attractive offers from MLS to continue his career in North America, this was not the message that Rashford would have wished as he seeks to maximise a career that has long been in danger of petering out disappointingly.
His wages remain the major stumbling block to completing his move to Barcelona on a full-time basis. While he has agreed personal terms with the Camp Nou side, there are doubts on the part of the Blaugrana, who have a tight budget to juggle.
Rashford may have agreed to a salary cut compared to his Man Utd wage, but it still represents a big outlay for Barca, where he is not even a regular starter.
Carrick leaves door open for Rashford return
The positive news for Rashford is that if he were to return to Old Trafford this summer, he would likely be going back to a more welcoming atmosphere.
Rashford was frozen out of the squad by Ruben Amorim after clashing with the Portuguese, and while there is still no permanent replacement confirmed, Carrick looks favourite for the role.
And his former Man Utd team-mate is not ruling out the winger returning to the squad.
“There’s decisions to be made on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation,” Carrick told the press on Friday.
“But at this point in time, nothing’s been decided. It will be, because it has to be at a certain point, but at this stage, there’s nothing to say.
“Whoever’s here, I want to work with, and help them improve.
“At the moment, it’s this squad of players. There’s obviously players on loan, and whatever happens with that later on will happen. But certainly, as a coach, and leader of a squad, we want to get the best out of everyone.”
A problem looms in Manchester
Wages will also be an issue in Manchester, though. If he were to return, he would be one of the Red Devils’ highest earners as Casemiro is departing.
Manchester United top 10 earners, inc. Rashford (Capology)
| Rank | Name | Gross Wage Per Week | Gross Total Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casemiro | £350,000 | £18,200,000 |
| 2 | Marcus Rashford | £325,000 | £16,900,000 |
| 3 | Bruno Fernandes | £300,000 | £15,600,000 |
| 4 | Matthijs de Ligt | £195,000 | £10,140,000 |
| 5 | Harry Maguire | £190,000 | £9,880,000 |
| 6 | Matheus Cunha | £180,000 | £9,360,000 |
| 7 | Benjamin Sesko | £160,000 | £8,320,000 |
| 8 | Bryan Mbeumo | £150,000 | £7,800,000 |
| 9 | Mason Mount | £150,000 | £7,800,000 |
| 10 | Luke Shaw | £150,000 | £7,800,000 |
Owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to reduce Man Utd’s overall wage bill and will likely question the value for money that Rashford provides.
With a contract that runs until June 2028, the England World Cup hopeful is unlikely to find himself out of the spotlight anytime soon.
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