Wayne Rooney has admitted he’s saddened to see that Marcus Rashford won’t be returning to Manchester United.
The forward is poised to complete a permanent move away from the club this summer, whether that be to Barcelona or another suitor.
What did Rooney have to say about Rashford?
“I think it’s a shame that he left Manchester United. He’s a Manchester lad,” said the Red Devils legend on his podcast with BBC Sport.
“He’s the one player who’s got a chance to get my [goalscoring] record there. Records are there for someone to break, and for a Manchester lad to do it, I think, would be great.”
“But over the last few years, he hasn’t been present there,” Rooney continued.
“We know what a good player he is, so he probably needed that change. It’s a shame to see it go the way it has because I’d still love him there.”
“It’s a shame that Marcus Rashford left Manchester United”
Could Rashford still be at Man Utd next season? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/Sw963wY0Jg
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 9, 2026
How Rashford has fared over the last year
Prior to his half-season loan spell with Aston Villa in 2024/2025, which came after a falling out with then-United manager Ruben Amorim, Rashford had only ever represented his boyhood side.
Appearances Goals Assists
426 138 79
Rashford’s complete record for United
Then, when his stint in claret and blue came to an end last summer, he completed a switch to Barcelona for the entirety of the 2025/2026 campaign.
The 28-year-old went on to win the La Liga and Spanish Super Cup, while racking up a stellar record of 14 goals and 14 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.
However, his best efforts haven’t proven enough for the Catalan giants to activate his £26 million buy clause, at least not yet, anyway.
Rashford’s future: The state of play
They have been dragging their heels over the fee for the last few months, yet went and agreed a shock £70m deal for a like-for-like replacement in the form of Anthony Gordon last week.
The transfer cast even more doubt over Rashford’s Camp Nou future; he was already navigating a rotational role under Hansi Flick, so the addition of Gordon wouldn’t have helped his case by any means.
Should the Blaugrana opt against signing him, reports have suggested Bayern Munich, who were in for Gordon themselves, are now considering a swoop for Rashford.
Isabel, 25, is a football writer who has previously gained experience in the industry as the editor of Stretty News, along with work on Caught Offside, Last Word on Football and Give Me Sport. She is now the editor of UtdReport.
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