Marcus Rashford's future of Manchester United is still a huge uncertainty despite the fact he looked set to depart Old Trafford this summer
Marcus Rashford #11 of England before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Marcus Rashford's future at Manchester United is still a mystery(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
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Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has warned the club may get stung if they sell Marcus Rashford to a Premier League rival. Rashford, 28, remains a United player after Barcelona chose not to exercise their option to buy him permanently.
He has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal, all of whom are direct Premier League rivals to United. Spurs were recently described as the 'most likely' destination for the England international, following links to a £30million move to north London.It's understood Rashford could still be re-integrated into Michael Carrick's side this summer. In Meulensteen's view, this may be preferable, as he believes the United academy graduate could make his former side pay if he is sold to another Premier League side.
Speaking to Andy's Bet Club, Meulensteen, when asked if the situation could be similar to United's decision to sell Scott McTominay, who has gone on to star for Napoli, replied: "Would selling Marcus Rashford be a repeat of selling Scott McTominay?
"I don't think people see Scott McTominay the same way. He moved because the club wanted to sell, and he has done brilliantly since. People might wonder if United sold him too early.
"But selling Marcus Rashford to a direct competitor like Arsenal or Chelsea could really hurt you. He is still a player who can make a difference. Ideally, if United sell him, they should sell him abroad."
Marcus Rashford (N14) upset after the defeat after La Liga EA Sports match between Alaves and Barcelona at Estadio Mendizorroza on May 13th 2026, in Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain
La Liga - Alaves vs Barcelona - Estadio de Mendizorroza, Vitoria Gasteiz, Pais Vasco, Spain
Barcelona chose not to sign Rashford permanently this summer(Image: Andres Lopez Sheridan/SPP/Shutterstock)
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Meulensteen also encouraged Carrick to have a dialogue with Rashford to see where his head is at and how he could be of use to the Reds. He added: "Michael Carrick is the type of person who recognises Marcus's qualities.
"They need an open conversation so Marcus understands what is required. Michael Carrick won't want to bring someone back if it creates another problem. If the clarity is there, he would be happy to bring him back into the fold.
"However, with the other players available, there wouldn't be a guaranteed start every week. The fact that it is taking so long to find clarity suggests there is still something brewing in the background. If all parties were happy for him to come back, they would likely have made that clear very quickly."
Manchester United's English head coach Michael Carrick sits on the bench during the pre-season friendly match between English Premier League football club Manchester United and EFL Championship club Wrexham AFC at Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland on July 18, 2026.
There are still many transfer decisions Michael Carrick has to solve(Image: Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)
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In terms of attacking options, United's main threats are Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount often operating in the space behind the striker.
Patrick Dorgu was also repackaged as a left-winger under Carrick, where he scored many key goals before injury sapped his momentum last season. United still have more pre-season friendlies to play.
They face Atletico Madrid in Stockholm tomorrow, Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8, Leeds United in Dublin on the 12th and AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland on the 15th, before their Premier League campaign begins against Hull City on August 22nd.