Manchester United fear Marcus Rashford's future will not be settled until after the World Cup, with talks over his move to Barcelona now stuck on money and timing. The 28-year-old is training on his own at Inter Miami as he waits to link up with England's squad, while United weigh whether to deal with Barcelona again or move him elsewhere.
That uncertainty matters now because Rashford remains on a £325,000-a-week contract until 2028 and United want a decision that lets them plan the rest of the summer. Barcelona had agreed during this season to make the loan permanent for £24 million, but after spending £70 million on Anthony Gordon they tried to reopen the terms, only for United to reject a 12-month loan, a lower fee and even the same £24 million spread across instalments.
Rashford has not hidden where he wants to end up. He remains desperate to join Barcelona and has no interest in resuming his Manchester United career, even after a debut campaign in Spain that delivered 14 goals and 14 assists in 49 appearances. Hansi Flick is understood to want to keep him, which leaves the Spanish club still involved even as the deal has drifted away from the simple permanent transfer United expected.
The breakdown has widened the field around him. Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham are all watching closely, although United are reluctant to sell to one of their main English rivals and Rashford is not interested in Newcastle or Tottenham. Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants him off the wage bill, but that does not make the decision easier for a club still tied to a player under contract until 2028 and now left waiting for a buyer to meet its terms.
Rashford has been training alone at Inter Miami ahead of England's World Cup camp, with the squad due in Florida on Monday before games against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, Ghana and Panama. If Barcelona do not come back with a deal United can accept, this transfer saga could stretch past the tournament and into the next phase of Manchester United's summer planning.
