According to the Manchester Evening News, the likelihood of Rashford staying at Manchester United this summer is increasing, and the key reason for this may be Carrick's return.
In training photos released by Manchester United this week, Rashford was almost always smiling, a stark contrast to his previous situation at the club. Last winter, he joined Barcelona on loan, with a buy-out clause of approximately £26 million included in his contract. At the time, neither Rashford nor Manchester United anticipated things would turn out this way. United had hoped Barcelona would ultimately exercise the buy-out clause, but now it seems the deal may not go as initially planned.
However, if Rashford can rediscover his best form under Carrick, then Barcelona's failure to exercise their option to buy him might indirectly do Manchester United a favor. Given the past relationship between Carrick and Rashford, this possibility is not without merit. Carrick himself stated this week regarding Rashford: "He is a very good player, and Marcus can bring us a lot."
Of course, everyone wants to see Rashford perform consistently, but the problem lies precisely in "consistency." His form has been quite inconsistent over the past few years, and before leaving Manchester United, his conflicts with the club went beyond just the sporting aspect; disciplinary and professional attitude issues also became a focus of attention.
Before Amorim ultimately decided to drop Rashford, the Manchester United academy graduate had already received numerous opportunities. Following United's humiliating defeat to Manchester City, Rashford went to a nightclub, a behavior that Ten Hag publicly stated was "unacceptable." He subsequently embroiled in controversy after going to Belfast while intoxicated. Ten Hag initially considered excluding him from the matchday squad, but ultimately feared this would further impact the team's performance, and therefore did not immediately take the most severe measures.
Following the Belfast incident, Ten Hag privately expressed deep disappointment with Rashford. Ultimately, as similar problems accumulated, Rashford gradually exhausted the club's patience, and Amorim finally decided to no longer tolerate him.
However, the plot may take a turn.
Carrick is perhaps the only manager currently willing to seriously consider reintegrating Rashford into Manchester United. This decision certainly carries risks, but judging from the current situation, Carrick doesn't seem to mind reopening the door to the Manchester United academy product.
Carrick is gradually building a promising team at Old Trafford. During his time as interim manager, he led Manchester United to more Premier League points than any other manager during that period. With United returning to the Champions League this season, Carrick clearly hopes the team can build on that success.
Expectations for Carrick are rising, with hopes that he can help Manchester United end their long Premier League title drought since 2013. However, bringing back a player whose professionalism has been questioned in the past also carries certain risks in terms of dressing room management.
Currently, this risk appears to be decreasing.
If Rashford can return smoothly, Carrick is satisfied with his training attitude, and his teammates are willing to accept his re-entry, then this "internal signing" could very well become a major boost for Manchester United in the new season.
Following Manchester United's preseason friendly against Leeds United on Wednesday night, an ITV reporter asked Mazraoui about the team's new signings. While the question didn't explicitly mention Rashford, Mazraoui proactively suggested that Rashford would be a "blockbuster signing." Realizing this could potentially make headlines, he cautiously added, "Of course, he could also leave."
However, judging from the various signals released recently, the possibility of Rashford staying at Manchester United is indeed increasing.
During his loan spell at Barcelona last season, Rashford contributed 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, and he also displayed excellent form while representing England at the World Cup. If he can maintain this form at Manchester United, the team will undoubtedly receive a significant boost.
The real question is: can Rashford maintain this level of performance in the long run?
Manchester United certainly have reason to be optimistic about his return, but even if they ultimately decide to keep him, it's difficult to say for sure that it's the right choice. The past few years have shown that Rashford's problems have never been just about goals and assists; his professionalism, discipline, and consistency also influence the team's assessment of him.
Therefore, Rashford must take responsibility for the series of events that led to his departure from Manchester United. However, at the same time, Manchester United's own problems cannot be completely ignored. In recent years, the club has experienced frequent coaching changes, tactical shifts, and management adjustments, resulting in a long-term lack of stability within the team.
This may be the key to understanding Rashford's current situation.
When discussing his career last year, Rashford stated that some of his struggles were related to "being in a consistently unstable environment." He said at the time, "So it's even harder to be consistent. I think I need to be consistent in games, and I'm working towards that. Obviously, I want to be at my best all the time, not just have occasional flashes of brilliance."
He further explained that stability is not only reflected in competitions, but is also closely related to life, training, and the surrounding environment. "People often talk about stability. Whether in sports or other fields, to maintain stability, you need a stable environment in all aspects of life and training. But in my career, I have experienced too many changes."
"However, like I said, I have to look forward. Consistency is definitely an area I want to correct and improve so that I can be at my best more often. Because when I'm in good form, I really enjoy everything about the sport, so that feeling is special to me."
Now, Carrick's arrival may just provide Rashford with what he previously lacked – a stable environment.
Carrick possesses a naturally composed demeanor, and the atmosphere within Manchester United is noticeably calmer. The team is preparing for the new season, and the previous period of continuous internal turmoil has not yet materialized. This is especially important for Rashford.
If he does choose to stay, then what he needs to prove next is not just whether he can still score goals, but whether he can rebuild the continuity of his professional career in a relatively stable environment.
This may be Manchester United's greatest hope for the success of the "Rashford plan".
Carrick's understanding of the team, his relationship with Rashford, and the relatively stable dressing room environment may all be key factors that make this return different from the past.
For Rashford, this is also an unexpected opportunity. He needs to take responsibility for the past, but more importantly, he needs to seize the present. If he can truly change himself, move away from disciplinary issues, and rediscover his consistent goal-scoring form, then perhaps everything that happened in the past will eventually become a thing of the past.
For Manchester United, a Rashford who has rediscovered his form and motivation would undoubtedly be a signing worth far more than the £26 million buyout fee.
