2026-08-07 13:15:11
Marcus Rashford is set for an awkward Manchester United reunion this weekend, 18 months after he last trained alongside his Old Trafford teammates.
The England forward, 28, is scheduled to travel to Dublin on Sunday to join United’s pre-season training camp after completing his mandatory three-week break following the World Cup.
Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martínez are also expected to report this weekend after being in the United States three weeks ago.
Marcus has not trained with United’s first-team squad since January 2025 after spending successive loan spells away from Old Trafford with Aston Villa and Barcelona.
His last training session with the club came shortly before his temporary move to Villa, when Marcus and other United players playfully struck then-manager Ruben Amorim as he ran through a birthday gauntlet.
Marcus joined Villa five days later after a period in which Ruben had repeatedly left the forward out of his matchday squads.
The move eventually took Marcus to Barcelona, but the Spanish champions decided in June not to exercise their £26 million option to sign him permanently.
Barcelona instead completed a £69 million move for fellow England winger Anthony Gordon.
Villa have also moved for Marcus’ former United teammate and rival for a position on the left wing, Alejandro Garnacho signing him on a season-long loan containing a £42.5 million obligation to buy.
Marcus and Alejandro were among five players who trained separately from United’s main squad at the Carrington training complex last summer after being instructed by Ruben to report at different times.
Ruben was subsequently dismissed in January, with Michael Carrick taking charge and stabilising United.
Michael and Marcus already have a lengthy history at Old Trafford.
Michael was Marcus’ teammate and captain before later working with him as a coach and caretaker manager during a period spanning almost six years.
Marcus had publicly expressed his desire to make his move to Barcelona permanent in May and reiterated his intention to leave United while representing England at the World Cup.
His reported £325,000-a-week United salary has complicated efforts to secure a permanent transfer, while the forward remains contracted to the club until 2028.
Before the World Cup, Marcus posted a message on Instagram thanking Barcelona, Villa, England and their respective coaches.
Manchester United were not mentioned.
United are also absent from the biographies on Marcus’ verified Instagram and X accounts, while his Facebook page has not been updated since December 2021.
Senior figures at United had expected Barcelona to make his move permanent and were surprised when the Catalan club decided against exercising its option.
United have subsequently shifted their transfer priorities away from signing another winger and towards recruiting a full-back capable of strengthening the left side.
Marcus is not considering moves to Turkey or Saudi Arabia as he attempts to remain part of Thomas Tuchel’s England plans for the 2028 European Championship.
Thomas included Marcus in his World Cup squad as the forward continued his international career after returning to the England setup.
The striker’s relationship with previous United managers has repeatedly attracted attention.
Before his fallout with Ruben, Marcus was disciplined by Erik ten Hag, 56, following a birthday celebration hours after United’s 3–0 home defeat by Manchester City in October 2023.
Another issue followed a trip to Belfast in January 2024, when Marcus subsequently missed training and United’s FA Cup victory over Newport County.
The academy graduate remains one of United’s most recognisable players after emerging from the club’s youth system and scoring twice on his senior debut against Midtjylland in the Europa League before repeating the feat on his Premier League debut against Arsenal.
He went on to win the FA Cup, two League Cups and the Europa League with United, while also establishing himself with England and featuring at major international tournaments.
Marcus has made more than 400 appearances for his boyhood club and scored more than 100 goals, with his future becoming one of United’s major unresolved issues as the new season approaches.
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