Michael Carrick has responded to not having Marcus Rashford among his Manchester United first-team picks after the England star signed for Barcelona last summer.
The 44-year-old Manchester United legend had played alongside Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford in the tail end of his prolific playing spell at Old Trafford.
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Michael Carrick would coach the 28-year-old Three Lions international during his time under former Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho as well.
Rashford was available for selection in Carrick’s spell as caretaker boss in 2021, but the same cannot be said about the Red Devils legend’s current interim role.
The United youth academy product left the Premier League club in 2025 and has been spending the 2025-26 campaign on loan at La Liga outfit Barcelona.
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Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford looks on during the La Liga match played between Barcelona and Levante at the Spotify Camp Nou stadium in 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.
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Michael Carrick’s verdict on Man Utd not keeping hold of Barcelona star Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford had fallen out of favour with Ruben Amorim in the 2024-25 campaign and spent the second half of the season out on loan at Aston Villa.
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Following Aston Villa’s decision not to make his move permanent to Villa Park, Rashford briefly returned to Old Trafford during the reign of Ruben Amorim in 2025.
However, Rashford was provided with a lifeline chance in last summer’s transfer window and Barcelona made the decision to sign the ex-Villa forward from United.
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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim giving instructions to Marcus Rashford.
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Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Michael Carrick was asked if it was a shame that Rashford left United after playing alongside him and coaching him.
“It’s difficult to say, you know, because circumstances at certain times, that I haven’t been involved in,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“It’s difficult for me to comment, really. I think the fact he’s come through the academy and had such a big impact here is a positive and as a club, he’s had some really big moments, and good moments, and I’ve shared some with him in the past, you know?”
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Michael Carrick on Man Utd without Marcus Rashford after the 2025 loan transfer to Barcelona
Rashford has revived his career away from Old Trafford and has impressed under Barcelona manager Hansi Flick at the Camp Nou in the 2025-26 campaign.
Carrick admitted that the on-loan Man Utd attacker is a perfect example of the uncertain trajectory that can happen with some footballers in the modern format.
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“So, football throws up certain things and obviously certain players, you can’t stay here forever and things happen,” he added.
“That’s how it is.”
Rashford has made 34 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona in the current campaign and has netted 10 times and registered 13 assists so far.
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