Michael Carrick’s stance on Marcus Rashford return as Man Utd boss faces issue | Football | Sport
Michael Carrick is reportedly keen for Marcus Rashford to remain at Manchester United but several hurdles stand in his way. The United manager has enjoyed a flawless start to his tenure, securing wins in all four matches despite not having Rashford as part of his squad.
United have experienced a renaissance under Carrick and now occupy a place in the top four. Rashford lost his place under previous United manager Ruben Amorim, prompting a loan switch to Aston Villa last term. The 28-year-old subsequently completed a summer transfer to Barcelona with a £26million buy option. Rashford has flourished in his new surroundings, scoring 10 goals and contributing 13 assists across 34 outings. While it appears likely his future lies away from Old Trafford, it is claimed Carrick wants to keep the England star at United.
Spanish outlet Sport reports that Carrick wants Rashford as part of his United squad next season. However, Barcelona are said to be fully prepared to activate his buyout clause.
Rashford has also made clear his intentions to stay with the Catalan giants following his loan spell. Speaking about his future in December, the United loanee said: “What I want is to stay at Barca.
“That’s the ultimate goal, but it’s not the reason I train hard and give my all. The purpose is to win. From the moment I arrived, I felt very welcome. For me, the reason I’m here is to help the team win trophies.”
Rashford shares a history with Carrick, having spent three years as teammates. The new United boss also oversaw the forward’s development as part of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom staff, in addition to his previous stint as caretaker manager.
The 44-year-old’s reported wish to keep Rashford at United would only become a factor in the summer should he secure the manager’s job permanently. Carrick has 13 games left to persuade the club’s decision-makers of his credentials, with his team already eliminated from both domestic cup tournaments.
Meanwhile, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has commended Rashford’s performances for his parent club. The German boss applauded the striker’s dedication while acknowledging that any permanent transfer would ultimately fall under the sporting director’s remit.
Speaking in January, Flick said of Rashford: “Marcus’ performances have been really good until now, so we have to manage it, but it’s Deco’s job to do things for next season. We have to wait.
“We have months to go. For me, of course, with Marcus we have a player on the top level, but also with our situation, and what I appreciate a lot from him [is his desire to be here].”
