Manchester United has set a deadline of August 9 to settle Marcus Rashford's future, as the English striker has not yet determined his destination after a period of playing on loan at Barcelona.
Currently, Rashford is fighting with the England national team at the 2026 World Cup and preparing to enter the quarter-finals against Norway. If coach Thomas Tuchel's team continues to win, the "Three Lions"' journey will last until the end of the week when the final match takes place.
According to regulations, players participating in the World Cup will have at least three weeks of rest after the tournament ends, before joining their club. This means Rashford can only return to Man United at the earliest on August 9 if he and the England team go deep in the tournament.
This is also the time when Man United begins their pre-season training trip in Dublin. According to British media, the "Red Devils" board wants to finalize Rashford's future before the whole team gathers.
The 28-year-old striker has expressed his desire to leave Old Trafford in the summer transfer window of 2026. Although he once hoped to continue to stick with Barcelona after the loan season, the Catalan team did not activate a buyout clause worth 26 million pounds. Instead, Barca decided to spend 70 million pounds to recruit Anthony Gordon, officially closing Rashford's opportunity to return to Camp Nou.
Man United also has no intention of continuing to let Rashford leave on loan. The club's board of directors only agrees to sell him outright if they receive a suitable offer. Tottenham is one of the clubs interested, but Rashford is said to prioritize joining a team with a Champions League spot next season.
Before the match against Mexico in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, Rashford also spoke out about his future. The striker born in 1997 said he once hoped everything would be resolved before the World Cup kicked off.
I have made it very clear to all those involved that I want the deal to be completed before the 2026 World Cup. If that doesn't happen, I will wait until the tournament ends. Right now, I just want to enjoy every moment and focus entirely on the goal with the England team" - Rashford shared.
Rashford has participated in England's first 4 matches at the 2026 World Cup, scoring a goal against Croatia before sitting on the bench in the 3-2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16. Although expected to return to the starting lineup in the match against Norway, the possibility of him continuing to be a substitute is quite high after Anthony Gordon's impressive performance.
The outstanding performance in Barcelona's colors last season helped Rashford regain his position in the England national team. In 49 appearances in all competitions, he scored 14 goals and contributed 14 assists, thereby opening up the prospect of leaving Man United to join a new team.
