Marcus Rashford expected to start new season back at Manchester United | Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford is poised to be reintegrated at Manchester United after the World Cup, with the forward expected to start next season as part of Michael Carrick’s squad.

Because of a breakdown in the relationship between the player and club the 28-year-old, who has two years left on his contract, last played for United in a 2-1 Europa League win at Viktoria Pilzen in December 2024. There are no problems between Rashford and Carrick.

Rashford will have a three‑week break at the close of England’s World Cup campaign and the plan is for the forward to return to United for pre‑season training.

United’s preference would be to ease their wage bill by offloading Rashford’s salary of about £17.5m a year, but there is a lack of requisite suitors for him. Rashford was loaned to Aston Villa in January 2025 then Barcelona for the 2025-26 season.

After scoring the goal in Barcelona’s 2-0 win against Real Madrid in May that sealed the La Liga title, Rashford stated his preference was to re-sign for the club. But while a fee of £26m would have triggered his release clause, Barcelona signed Anthony Gordon, whose preferred position is also wide left, for £60.7m plus add-ons from Newcastle. United have no plans to engage with Barcelona regarding another temporary move for Rashford.

Rashford’s relationship with United was ruptured after he was taken off on 56 minutes at Pilzen by the club’s then head coach Ruben Amorim, who subsequently refused to consider him for selection. The Portuguese explained why later that month. “It is important the performance in training, in games, the way you dress, eat, engage with your teammates, push your teammates,” said Amorim.

United’s pre-season begins on Thursday and they have six friendlies before the new campaign, beginning with a match against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July, the day before the World Cup final. United will then face Rosenborg in Trondheim, on 24 July, Atlético Madrid in Stockholm (1 August), Paris Saint‑Germain in Gothenburg (8 August), Leeds in Dublin (12 August), and Milan in Wroclaw (15 August). A week later they travel to Hull to begin the Premier League season. If England reach the World Cup final then the earliest Rashford could return to United would be 10 August.

Carrick was appointed in May as the permanent head coach after initially replacing Amorim in January as a caretaker. He guided United back into the Champions League with a third-place finish and is excited about next season.

“We know we’ve got what it takes to beat the best teams in this league,” Carrick told the club website. “Now it’s about doing that over a full Premier League campaign, while also fighting for every trophy available to us.

“I cannot wait to lead the group forward next season and for those special European nights to return to Old Trafford. We are ready to kick on and give you more of the great moments that United are all about.”

United have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Andrey Santos for £48m plus £2m in add-ons. The deal includes a 10% sell-on clause for the London club and terms have been agreed with the 22-year-old midfielder.

Santos, who can play in a holding or attacking role, has six Brazil caps but was not part of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad that was eliminated by Norway in the last 16 of the World Cup on Sunday.

Carrick’s midfield options are expected to be bolstered further by Éderson, who is in line to join from Atlanta for an initial €40.5m (£35m). The 27-year-old, who came off the bench for Brazil in the defeat by Norway, is yet to complete a medical.

United may target a third midfielder, with Carrick intent on adding a player of a more established pedigree. He retains an interest in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. Each would cost a minimum £80m.