Marcus Rashford is increasingly likely to leave Man United this summer - but Juan Mata believes there could still be a way back for him at the club.
Marcus Rashford celebrates with Juan Mata after a Manchester United goal.
Juan Mata believes Marcus Rashford (right) could still have a future at Old Trafford.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata believes it could turn out to be a "win-win" situation for all parties if Marcus Rashford stays at Old Trafford this summer.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News last week, Rashford has informed United that he wants to leave the club this summer. United plan to sell him and have valued him at £40million.
Rashford, who has had his return date to Carrington for the start of pre-season delayed to allow him time to find a new club, spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa after falling out of favour under head coach Ruben Amorim.
United expect Rashford, 27, to move abroad this summer and he is continuing to be heavily linked with a move to Barcelona. Bayern Munich have also been credited with interest in the England international.
Although an exit appears to be inevitable this summer, whether permanently or on loan, former United ace Mata, who now plays for Western Sydney Wanderers, believes there could still be a way back for his former teammate in M16, but has hinted that a lot of it would rest on Rashford's state of mind.
"I saw his first training (session) with us," Mata told The Athletic. "I love him. As a kid, I called him 'the wonderkid'.
"The way he played was fearless, you could feel he could win a game by himself at any time when he was playing at his best.
"As a Man United fan and as a friend of Marcus, I wish that he can succeed here because it's his club, his boyhood club.
"I don't know what's going to happen but if he stays and he can actually be happy and enjoy, I think it will be a win-win situation for both the club and him."
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