Marcus Rashford has bid farewell to Barcelona as he returns to Manchester United for the upcoming Premier League season, bringing his loan stint to a close.
Barcelona had the option to make Rashford’s transfer permanent for approximately €30 million ($34 million), but they chose not to exercise it despite his impressive performances last season.
Sources informed ESPN in June that Barcelona were still interested in potentially re-signing him for a reduced fee or another loan, but the signings of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi seem to have closed that chapter for the England forward.
In a social media post on Thursday, Rashford expressed his gratitude: “I’m very thankful to everyone at the club for making my time here so positive and memorable. I’ve cherished every moment and will carry many wonderful memories with me. I wish the club and all its fans the best of luck and much success in the upcoming season.”
The 28-year-old is currently on vacation after being part of the England squad that finished third in the recent World Cup.
Rashford is expected to return to Carrington in early August to begin preparations for the new Premier League campaign, which starts with a match against newly promoted Hull City on August 22.
However, his future remains uncertain, and reintegration into Michael Carrick’s squad is not guaranteed.
As reported in June by ESPN, Manchester United would seek a fee of up to €40 million ($46 million) for a permanent transfer, and they prefer to avoid selling him to another English club.
United manager Carrick indicated that a decision on Rashford’s future will be made at the appropriate time, leaving the door open for a return to Old Trafford.
Last season, Rashford scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists in 49 matches, helping Barcelona secure the LaLiga title and the Spanish Supercopa.
While sources indicated that Barcelona was interested in re-signing Rashford, they ultimately decided against it due to the associated costs and opted to explore other options.
With the arrivals of Gordon and Adeyemi—Gordon in a €70 million transfer from Newcastle United and Adeyemi for an initial €22 million ($25 million) from Borussia Dortmund—Barcelona is still looking for a striker to replace the departing Robert Lewandowski, with Atlético Madrid and Argentina striker Julián Álvarez being their primary target.