Marcus Rashford has been told a reunion with Manchester United should not happen as Paul Scholes handed the winger a brutal reality of his potential future. The 28-year-old's season-long loan at Barcelona is set to conclude this month.
Rashford's Barcelona Stint
The La Liga champions look set to defend their title given their 11-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid with five games left. It has been a return to form for the England forward in Spain, having contributed 13 goals and 13 assists in 45 games across all competitions.
Rashford has made no secret of his desire to stay at Barcelona, but talks between the Spanish giants and United have stalled. Recent reports claim that Barca are unwilling to pay the £26 million fee to turn his loan into a permanent transfer, instead wanting to negotiate a second temporary stint for next season.
United Favour Sale
United are said to favour a sale of Rashford, who still has two years left remaining on his £325,000-a-week contract. His future has been a long-standing topic across the year and was brought up on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast starring United icons Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
When asked by the show's host Paddy McGuinness whether they want to see Rashford don the red shirt again, they both answered no. Scholes then claimed the United loanee will only ever be a squad player at Barcelona. With 15 league starts to his name this season, including just two in their last nine fixtures, Rashford has struggled to make himself indispensable to Barca boss Hansi Flick.
Scholes' Verdict
Scholes said: "At Barcelona, he only ever will be back-up to Raphinha and Yamal. It's down to the lad, does he want to go to maybe a Villa or that type of club where he'll probably play every week."
Butt admitted Rashford's lack of starts recently would lead him to join another club this summer. He added: "I think Marcus has made that break now and that's probably the toughest thing he's had to do because I've done it, to leave the club that you've been brought up with and been there that long.
"That's the hardest part, is that initial break and he went to Villa and had a great little start. I think it's started off well at Barcelona and for some reason he's not getting games now and I think he will go somewhere else. It's just where and who can afford the money."
Need for Regular Football
Butt claimed the United academy graduate must go to a club where he'll play regularly to get the best out of him. The former England midfielder explained: "Marcus needs to play every single week. We've known him from a young age, he needs confidence, an arm around him and then you'll have an unbelievable talent. When he's a bit-part player and not playing every week and he's not feeling loved, that's when he loses the love of football."
