Manchester United have altered their transfer policy regarding Marcus Rashford, who spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Barcelona, according to reports from Sport. The 28-year-old forward initially departed Old Trafford in August following a disagreement with then-manager Ruben Amorim and has expressed a desire to make his move to the Catalan club permanent.
Barcelona possess a €30 million buyout clause in the loan agreement, allowing them to secure Rashford’s services permanently, but have delayed exercising it while evaluating other potential signings. Despite previously citing financial difficulties, Barcelona have recently completed an €80 million deal for Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and submitted a €100 million bid for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.
Previous attempts by Barcelona to renegotiate the buyout fee with United have been unsuccessful, with the Premier League club initially maintaining its €30 million demand. However, United are now reportedly willing to compromise and accept a more favorable deal for Barcelona, as they recognize Rashford’s strong preference to remain at Camp Nou and his unwillingness to consider offers from other clubs.
Despite this potential shift in United’s stance, Barcelona may be reconsidering their pursuit of Rashford, as he is no longer considered a top priority. The club is carefully managing its wage bill and is hesitant to commit to a significant financial outlay. Sources claim that while nothing is definitively ruled out, Rashford’s return to Barcelona is becoming increasingly unlikely.
United have given Barcelona a deadline of June 15th to make a final decision on Rashford, who has actively sought another loan agreement through his representatives. United’s insistence on the €30 million fee stems from a belief that they can secure a more lucrative deal with another interested party. Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle have reportedly expressed interest, but Rashford is reportedly uninterested in joining any of those clubs. Should Barcelona fail to meet the deadline, Rashford is likely to return to Manchester United, where he is not currently in Michael Carrick’s plans for the upcoming season. His long-term future is therefore likely to be determined after the World Cup, with a return to either Barcelona or Old Trafford appearing increasingly improbable.
