Manchester United have a problem with Marcus Rashford that isn’t going away this summer. And honestly, it’s the kind of problem they created for themselves.
The 27-year-old is currently at the World Cup with England, where Thomas Tuchel has been using him as an impact sub. That role fits his game right now. But it does not fit his paycheck.
United sent Rashford to Barcelona on loan last season. The Spanish club didn’t bite on a permanent deal. So now the forward is expected back at Carrington for preseason, and the clock is ticking on what happens next. Bayern Munich and Tottenham have been linked, but nothing concrete has materialized.
The wage problem nobody wants to talk about
Here’s the thing about Rashford’s contract. It’s massive. And United’s Champions League qualification triggered a further bump in his salary, making him even harder to move. It also makes it nearly impossible to justify benching him. If you’re paying a guy that much, you feel like you have to start him.
But that creates a different headache. Matheus Cunha just finished a strong first season on the left wing. Bruno Fernandes is the 10. Bryan Mbeumo or Amad are options on the right. Dropping Cunha to accommodate Rashford doesn’t make sense, especially when the Brazilian is still improving.
Rashford isn’t the same player he was when he broke through. The raw speed that terrified defenders is less of a factor now. He’s become more of a creator, a guy who scores highlight-reel goals rather than just poaching tap-ins. That version of him can be devastating off the bench against tired legs. Tuchel, Unai Emery at Aston Villa, and Hansi Flick at Barcelona all used him that way.
An expensive luxury United can’t afford
But having a super-sub on superstar wages messes with your squad structure. It sends a weird message to the locker room. And it limits what you can do in the transfer market.
The best solution for everyone might be a clean break. Rashford needs a fresh start somewhere he’s valued as a starter. United need the wage space and the roster clarity. But it’s not that simple. The market has to cooperate, and so far it hasn’t.
If he stays, Michael Carrick will have to find a way to make it work. Carrick has a good track record with player profiling and maximizing talent. But that doesn’t erase the contractual mess. Rashford covers both left wing and striker, which provides depth. That has value in a season where United will chase four competitions. But he’s an expensive depth piece.
Some fans might warm back up to him if he produces in big moments. And if Bruno eventually leaves and Cunha slides into the 10 spot, Rashford could reclaim the left wing long-term. But that’s a lot of hypotheticals.
Right now, United are stuck between keeping a player who doesn’t fit their salary structure and selling a player at a discount because everyone knows they’re desperate. How they handle this will say a lot about whether the club has actually learned from its past mistakes. Or if they’re just going to keep making the same ones.
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