A shock move to Liverpool for Marcus Rashford has been touted this summer
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates with Scott McTominay of Manchester United after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 03, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Marcus Rashford could still depart Old Trafford this summer(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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Marcus Rashford has been told he would flourish at Liverpool as the Manchester United star's future remains up in the air. That is the opinion of Chelsea legend Claude Makelele, who says he believed Barcelona would keep the England star following his successful loan last season.
The La Liga champions opted to sign Newcastle star Anthony Gordon instead after refusing to pay the £26million option in Rashford's contract. The 28-year-old was expected to seek a permanent move away from Old Trafford this summer, with a clause in his deal allowing for his exit should a £40m bid come in, according to The Athletic.
The clause was available to every club apart from United's biggest rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool. However, it has since expired, meaning any club now has the opportunity to sign Rashford by opening fresh negotiations for the forward.
Rashford is set to join United's pre-season tour following his break after representing England at the World Cup. But a third successive move away from his boyhood club to none other than their greatest adversary has been suggested by Makelele.
Speaking to ComeOn, the Frenchman said: "I would have expected Barcelona to keep Marcus Rashford, honestly. It's strange. He had an exceptional season, and I think he loved playing in that team because they play football.
"It's not the Premier League, it's not box-to-box. It let him rediscover his game, and he needed that after everything he went through at Manchester United. Sometimes a move is exactly what saves you: it gives you back the taste for football, for this sport we love, and it clearly did him good.
"If staying at Barcelona isn't possible and he decides to come back to the Premier League, he would do a lot of good at Liverpool." Makelele's stance was backed by ex-Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes. The Spaniard suggested that playing for Andoni Iraola's side will only provide more motivation for Rashford to succeed.
Marcus Rashford with a World Cup bronze medal
Marcus Rashford is set to return to Manchester United this summer(Image: Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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He said to Reviant: "Marcus Rashford to Liverpool? I wouldn't be surprised. It might be a good place for him to show his quality. He showed it last year, I was going to say sparingly, not sparingly exactly, but in specific moments he showed he's a great player.
"The thing is, with this type of player you have to give him minutes, give him games, because if you play him one game and rest him the next two, in the end these are players who never really settle.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 21: Liverpool F.C. head coach Andoni Iraola speaks during a press conference at the Chicago Fire Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of his team's pre-season friendly against Leeds United in Chicago, Illinois, United States, on July 21, 2026. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola remains on the chase for a winger at Anfield(Image: Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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"For Liverpool, this type of player has an edge to it, since he's also played for Manchester [United] before. I don't know if that would give him even more motivation to prove how good a player he is.
"But these are players I like, because they're natural athletes, they're very quick, and in the end the big clubs need this kind of profile: fast, athletic players with a good shot on them.
"The other side of it is whether he ends up delivering or not, and whether he has the backing of the stands too. He had his spot alongside Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. But now he’ll have to show it again at another club and Liverpool would be a good option yes."
Rashford primarily plays on the left of the attack, and Liverpool have already secured a reinforcement in that position with the signing of Victor Munoz. However, the club remain light on the opposite flank following the exit of Mohamed Salah.
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