​Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is with England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, yet his future at Old Trafford remains uncertain. The English forward’s career has been marked by a high-profile fallout with former head coach Ruben Amorim, and he has spent the last 18 months on loan spells away from United. Rashford initially moved to Aston Villa on a temporary deal in January of last year, before joining Barcelona on a season-long loan last summer. At 28 years old, he proved to be transformative in La Liga, tallying 14 goals and 14 assists as he helped the Catalan club clinch both the league title and the Supercopa de Espana.
Nevertheless, Barcelona chose not to exercise the €30 million purchase option in his contract, despite Rashford’s expressed willingness to remain at Camp Nou. The Catalans went on to strengthen their squad with the acquisition of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, which further clouded Rashford’s prospects of a permanent move away. While INEOS has indicated a willingness to sanction his departure, there are reports that Manchester United themselves could be prepared to reintegrate him into Michael Carrick’s squad. Club legend Paul Scholes has now given his take on the situation.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes admitted he remains unsure about Rashford’s return to United’s fold. He said: “I think it’s only Michael [Carrick] that can do it, it’s only Michael.” He added: “It very rarely happens when a big player, like Marcus, goes to a big club on loan for a year, two years, whatever it is, they very rarely come back and play for the team. If anybody can fix it, I think it would be Michael Carrick.”
Rashford rose through United’s academy and has racked up an impressive 138 goals and 79 assists in 426 appearances for the Red Devils. His contract with United runs until 2028. Scholes then speculated on external influences that could have affected Rashford’s form. He suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi might have impacted the young forward, saying: “I think the problem with Marcus is that he got influenced a bit by what Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi did.” He conceded that this may sound odd, given the stature of those two players, but argued that Rashford’s off-ball discipline suffered as a result, with him sometimes drifting into a complacent mindset.
“Going forward, he has the ability to beat players and to score goals, almost in the manner of Kylian Mbappe,” Scholes continued. “I know it’s a stretch to put him on that level, but he has that talent. The issue is that he stopped matching the intensity when out of possession. You’ve seen it in England matches: a rapid winger who doesn’t track back consistently becomes a problem. United wingers must offer an all-around contribution—both attacking returning and defensive work—and Rashford’s pace and quality going forward are undeniable, but the balance is crucial.”
Scholes argued that today’s wingers must be constant threats going forward while also contributing defensively, and that Rashford’s current profile may have discouraged the kind of relentless work rate Michael Carrick would want from him. He suggested that Rashford’s off-ball duties and his willingness to press and recover the ball are essential to any successful return to the club.
Rashford’s trajectory remains a topic of debate among fans and pundits alike. With a longstanding association with United and a record that speaks for itself, the question of whether he can re-adapt to life at Old Trafford under Carrick or another manager continues to divide opinion. For Rashford, the next chapter will likely hinge on a combination of club strategy, personal development, and the player’s commitment to a more complete, two-way game. As the 2026 World Cup unfolds and his England role continues, Rashford’s club future will be watched closely by supporters eager to see whether he can recapture his peak form and reintegrate into a United side that remains eager to maximize his considerable talent.