Man Utd squad’s stance on Marcus Rashford return after ‘letting them down’ with statement

Marcus Rashford could be set for a return to Manchester United this summer after a year-and-a-half away from Old Trafford

Marcus Rashford’s hopes of forcing his way back into the Manchester United squad have been boosted after one of his longest-serving team-mates publicly backed his return. The 28-year-old is set to report back to Old Trafford later this summer following an impressive loan spell at Barcelona.

The England international enjoyed one of the best campaigns of his recent career in Spain, helping the Catalan giants win La Liga while registering 14 goals and 14 assists across all competitions. Barcelona had been widely expected to pursue a permanent deal but instead opted to spend £70million on Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, leaving Rashford’s long-term future hanging in the balance.

The academy graduate’s relationship with United deteriorated under former boss Ruben Amorim, who froze him out after the forward publicly admitted he was “ready for a new challenge” away from his boyhood club. But Harry Maguire believes Rashford deserves the chance to start afresh under new permanent head coach Michael Carrick.

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Asked whether he and the rest of the dressing room would welcome Rashford back with open arms, the United defender told The Rest Is Football: “Yeah, of course, I have an amazing relationship with Marcus and have had some great times with him over the years. I know what a wonderful player he can be. I’m sure it’s up to the club and up to Marcus to find a mutual agreement

"Of course, if Marcus does come back, we want him to come back and play and be happy and confident. It needs to be right for himself, it needs to be right for the club, but everyone knows what a great player Marcus can be for whatever club he plays for next season.”

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Maguire’s stance is in stark contrast to that of United legend Paul Scholes, who previously urged his former club to “banish” Rashford following his controversial remarks. “I think Marcus has let a lot of people down really, with his attitude, and I think that’s what the manager is trying to say,” Scholes told The Overlap Fan Debate.

“OK, he’s not refusing to play, but in the way he’s behaving and the way he’s training, in a way he is saying I don’t want to be involved with these.

"So I think the fact of letting your team-mates down in that dressing room – he should be banished from the dressing room really. If he’s in and around that and young people are seeing that as an example, the sooner he’s gone the better.”

Rashford’s infamous comments reportedly angered several United players – particularly because they came just days after the club recorded a famous derby victory over Manchester City in December 2024. “Some of the players are really annoyed at what Marcus said and why he chose to say it at the time,” a source close to the squad told The Sun.

“They were all buzzing after beating City and then he basically put in a transfer request after being dropped for one game.” The Manchester-born star still has two years left on his reported £325,000 per week contract and is expected to return to Old Trafford after England’s World Cup campaign.

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