Marcus Rashford's prospects of leaving Manchester United this summer have become more complicated after a release clause in his contract expired, according to The Athletic. The 29-year-old forward has not played for United since December 2024, having spent loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona, but his future remains uncertain after Barcelona declined to make his move permanent.
Barcelona Opts Out, Release Clause Expires
Barcelona had the option to sign Rashford permanently for €30 million (£25.4 million) but deemed the fee too expensive, instead choosing to sign Anthony Gordon for £69 million. With that option gone, Rashford was expected to leave United this summer, but his release clause—set at £40 million and available to any club except Manchester City and Liverpool—has now expired.
As a result, any potential transfer will now require club-to-club negotiations to determine a fee, rather than a straightforward flat payment. This adds complexity to a move that already faced hurdles.
Rashford's Future Uncertain
Rashford is set to rejoin Manchester United for pre-season training, but he remains likely to leave on a permanent basis this summer. However, he has reportedly turned down multiple contract offers from interested clubs, including some worth more than his current United deal.
There is a possibility that Rashford could be reintegrated into the United squad under Michael Carrick, as his departure on loan to Aston Villa came after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim, who is now at AC Milan.
World Cup Campaign and Pre-Season
Rashford's immediate focus is on England's World Cup campaign, which concludes with the bronze medal match on Saturday. He has made five appearances for England this summer, scoring once, and was a late substitute in the semi-final loss to Argentina.
Manchester United have already begun pre-season training and will play their first summer friendly on Saturday against Wrexham in Helsinki. Rashford's long-term future is likely to remain unresolved until after the World Cup.
