Marcus Rashford is set to return to Manchester United in the coming weeks and feature for Michael Carrick's side
Marcus Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United this summer, but the England international has been warned he must do this one thing.
Marcus Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United this summer, but the England international has been warned he must do this one thing.(Image: (Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images))
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Former Sunderland star Micky Gray has warned Marcus Rashford he needs to set the record straight with an 'almighty statement' explaining the reason behind his Manchester United departures in recent seasons. The England international has been a mainstay in the United set-up since breaking into the team as an academy talent.
However, he fell down the pecking order under former head coach Ruben Amorim and spent the latter half of the 2024-25 season on loan with Aston Villa, before spending last season on loan with Barcelona. The La Liga side had an obligation to buy Rashford, but chose not to exercise that option.
As things stand, it appears Rashford is set to be reintegrated into the Manchester United team, with Michael Carrick set to call upon the 28-year-old in pre-season when he returns from holiday. It's understood the club would still be open to a transfer this summer, but as things stand, no club has come forward with a bid that matches his valuation, and has Rashford's approval.
Recent reports claim the England international has turned down a move to Turkiye this summer, and he looks set to return to United next month. However, former Three Lions star, Gray, has warned Rashford that he has to explain why he left the club last season and then potentially get used to not being a regular at his boyhood club.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Gray said: "There's a few things. I think the most important one of all, and lets put a big 'if' in this conversation.
"If Marcus Rashford has got a future at Manchester United, he has to do an almighty statement of why he wants to be at Manchester United and what the reasons were for him leaving the club in the first place.
"I think that's first and foremost the priority that he has to do. The other thing is on the footballing side of things, Marcus is going to have to get used to, if he does stay at Manchester United, is being a bit-part player.
"He is not first on the list. He's not going to be playing every single week. Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko, Amad, just to name a few of the players that have caught up to, if not overtaken Marcus Rashford.
Marcus Rashford could be back in Manchester United plans again next month
Marcus Rashford could be back in Manchester United plans again next month(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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"Spain is not England. Barcelona is not - with the greatest respect, I know he was great and did very well - he can play at Barcelona on a different level to what he can at Manchester United.
"You can't deny that the Premier League is 100 mile an hour. Marcus is going to have to get himself super fit in pre-season.
"Yes, he's been involved with England so he doesn't have to catch up too much. He was fit enough to play for England when he was called upon.
"He did okay at times. Other games he was poor, but I think what we saw for England was the good and bad.
"Can Man United utilise Marcus Rashford in that way where they can expect to see the good side of Marcus Rashford, but also the bad side of Marcus Rashford?"