Marcus Rashford is set to return to Manchester United this summer after an 18-month absence, and his prospects of rejoining the first team have received a significant boost from teammate Harry Maguire. The 28-year-old England international spent a year on loan at Barcelona, where he scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists across all competitions, helping the Catalan club win La Liga. Despite his success, Barcelona chose not to make the move permanent, instead spending £70 million on Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, leaving Rashford's long-term future uncertain.
Maguire welcomes Rashford back
Harry Maguire, a long-standing teammate of Rashford at United, publicly voiced support for his return. Asked if the squad would welcome Rashford back, Maguire told The Rest Is Football: "Yeah, of course, I have an amazing relationship with Marcus and have had some great times with him over the years. I know what a wonderful player he can be. I'm sure it's up to the club and up to Marcus to find a mutual agreement. Of course, if Marcus does come back, we want him to come back and play and be happy and confident. It needs to be right for himself, it needs to be right for the club, but everyone knows what a great player Marcus can be for whatever club he plays for next season."
Scholes calls for Rashford to be 'banished'
Maguire's stance contrasts sharply with that of United legend Paul Scholes, who previously called for Rashford to be "banished" from the dressing room. Scholes told The Overlap Fan Debate: "I think Marcus has let a lot of people down really, with his attitude, and I think that's what the manager is trying to say. OK, he's not refusing to play, but in the way he's behaving and the way he's training, in a way he is saying I don't want to be involved with these. So I think the fact of letting your team-mates down in that dressing room – he should be banished from the dressing room really. If he's in and around that and young people are seeing that as an example, the sooner he's gone the better."
Rashford's controversial comments
Rashford's relationship with United deteriorated under former manager Ruben Amorim after the forward admitted he was "ready for a new challenge" away from the club. The remarks reportedly angered several squad members, especially as they came just days after United's derby win over Manchester City in December 2024. A source told The Sun: "Some of the players are really annoyed at what Marcus said and why he chose to say it at the time. They were all buzzing after beating City and then he basically put in a transfer request after being dropped for one game."
Future uncertain
Rashford still has two years remaining on his £325,000-per-week contract and is expected to return to Old Trafford after England's World Cup campaign. With new permanent head coach Michael Carrick at the helm, the door may be open for a fresh start, but the final decision rests on whether the club and player can find common ground.
