Marcus Rashford is currently representing England at the 2026 World Cup, but his club future is shaping up to be just as dramatic as anything happening on the pitch in Qatar. The Manchester United attacker, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona, has a £40 million release clause in his contract — but not every club can trigger it.
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, that release clause is explicitly not valid for two of United’s biggest Premier League rivals: Manchester City and Liverpool. That means if either club wants to sign the 28-year-old forward, they’d have to negotiate a separate fee directly with United — and likely pay significantly more.
What the Clause Actually Means
Romano broke the news on Tuesday, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “Marcus Rashford’s £40m release clause is not valid for Man City and Liverpool — the final decision stands with the player. He’s gonna assess all options, Man United too, including staying under Michael Carrick.”
The clause, which was reportedly inserted into Rashford’s contract during his loan move to Barcelona, was designed to give the player flexibility if he wanted a permanent transfer away from Old Trafford. But the exclusion of City and Liverpool suggests United’s front office wanted to avoid strengthening direct rivals at a cut-rate price.
A New Coach, a Fresh Start
Rashford’s situation is further complicated by the changing of the guard at Manchester United. Michael Carrick, promoted from interim manager to the full-time role in January, is now preparing for his first summer transfer window in charge. He replaced Rubem Amorim, who left to become AC Milan’s new head coach.
Carrick didn’t have much say in United’s winter business, which saw the club spend heavily — nearly €250 million — on strikers Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha, plus winger Bryan Mbeumo. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens also arrived and proved to be one of the best additions of the lot. Now Carrick faces a decision: does he try to reintegrate Rashford into the squad, or does he move him on to free up wages and possibly bring in new pieces?
The Likely Outcome
United’s attack was already overhauled last summer, and Rashford wasn’t part of those plans under Amorim. After a strong second half of the season under Carrick, the team showed improved form — but Rashford was in Spain for most of that stretch. Whether he can slot back into that system remains an open question.
For now, Rashford is focused on England’s World Cup run. But when the tournament ends, the real game begins. Clubs across Europe — except those two in northwest England — will be watching closely to see if the £40 million price tag becomes the bargain of the summer.
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