Despite spending 18 months away from Old Trafford, Marcus Rashford looks set to return to Manchester United this summer.
Going back just a few months, not many people would believe you if you told them Marcus Rashford was close to heading back to Manchester United after his World Cup campaign, but that is what is going to happen.
Barcelona chose not to activate their £26 million buy option to sign Rashford after his brilliant spell on loan in La Liga. Instead, moving for Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon and Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi.
Last month, Rashford also had a £40 million release clause – available to every club that wasn't Liverpool or Manchester City - but that was not activated either.
The last time Rashford played for Manchester United was in a 2-1 win in the Europa League against Viktoria Plzên in Rúben Amorim's early days as head coach.
Rashford netted the first goal of Amorim's United tenure against Ipswich Town and scored another two against Everton, but was loaned to Aston Villa after the turn of the year before being named in Amorim's "Bomb Squad".
Rashford to return next week
Having spent three weeks on holiday after the World Cup, Marcus Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United next week while the group trains in the Republic of Ireland, according to Simon Stone (BBC Sport).
He is due to return alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martínez, who also made it to the latter stages of the World Cup.
Rashford's first game back in Manchester United colours could be against Rúben Amorim's AC Milan side on Saturday, 15 August. United also face Leeds United on Wednesday, 12 August, but that could be too soon for the England international.
Rashford will likely feel he has a point to prove if he does come up against Amorim in pre-season, although Michael Carrick has already proven his man-management skills this summer.
He has been seen regularly putting his arm around players, especially 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, before he made his debut against Atletico Madrid.
Even still, it will be quite the decision for Carrick to make.
The fairytale return
Rashford returning to Manchester United does not quite feel real, and it likely will not do until he puts on the shirt and walks out onto the pitch for the first time.
However, there is the small matter of which shirt he will put on, as he does not have a number any longer. Matheus Cunha is wearing the No.10 shirt, Bryan Mbeumo is wearing the No.19, and Tyler Fletcher occupies the No.39 shirt – all of Rashford's previous United numbers.
But that will not be Rashford's primary concern.
The academy graduate took a lot of abuse during his last stint at Manchester United, and he will be keen to ensure he does not give anyone a reason for that to happen again – not that he really did the first time.
And if he does feature against AC Milan, that is just another twist to this long, and seemingly never-ending tale, but for Rashford's sake, hopefully it will end this season. And he will finally have the chance to just be a Manchester United footballer again.
