Barcelona's hesitation opens a surprising door for Marcus Rashford's Manchester United return. Could a sensational comeback to Old Trafford be on the cards?
Marcus Rashford's last two years associated with Manchester United have fallen well short of hopes and expectations, especially given the exceptional career he built at the club.
The England international progressed through the Carrington academy during the early 2010s and burst onto the scene in 2016, scoring twice on his debut against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League before netting a brace against Arsenal just three days later.
He went on to make 426 appearances for United, registering 138 goals and 79 assists, cementing his place as one of the club’s standout academy graduates in recent decades.
However, following a breakdown in his relationship with Rúben Amorim amid disciplinary concerns, Rashford was loaned to Aston Villa in January 2025 for six months, before securing a subsequent one-year loan move to Barcelona later that year.
Rashford open to stunning United return
Reports over the last few months have stated that although Barcelona are happy with Rashford and that the player is settled and enjoying life in Spain, they have yet to exercise the £26 million buy option on the winger.
Rashford turns 29 at the end of October, and Barcelona are reportedly hesitant to spend the money on a player who will be turning thirty in a few years' time, creating a bit of a stalemate regarding his move.
Amid the uncertainty, the BBC have now produced a stunning report stating that the United Academy graduate would be open to a return to Old Trafford this summer if needed.
It's claimed that, with Barcelona yet to activate the clause, multiple other clubs in Europe are keen on signing the forward, with PSG among those known to be tracking the player.
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been firm in his words about United's wage bill, and if Rashford were to return, he would immediately become their highest-paid player, which would cause problems for the Reds.
Onana wants to fight for his place
Rashford is not the only on-loan player the BBC claim is open to a return to United, with goalkeeper André Onana also said to be a player determined to fight for his future at Old Trafford.
Onana's two seasons at the club were a train wreck, with the Cameroon goalkeeper making a series of mistakes in crucial games that cost the club multiple victories, including a crash out of the 2023/24 Champions League group stage.
It's been reported that those close to Onana believe his current mindset is that he will be returning to United and hopes to play during pre-season to convince the new manager he can be part of his plans.
The 30-year-old still believes he has a future at the club and is not prepared to give that up without a fight. However, with Senne Lammens now a fan-favourite in goal, this feels unlikely.