After suffering a hamstring injury, Marcus Rashford must plan for the next step in his career.
Un welcomed at his childhood club Manchester United, Rashford has faced a summer that could shape his career. There is no way for the 27-year-old to return to Old Trafford when coach Ruben Amorim is still in charge.
Rashford has two options - ensuring a long-term move elsewhere or a loan deal if the first priority is not feasible.
Although the "Red Devils" medical team is in contact with colleagues at Aston Villa, where Rashford was loaned until the end of the season, this striker will not return to his home club to restore his functions.
Rashford's return to Man United's Carrington coaching complex will create an unwanted and unnecessary distraction for Amorim. Especially after all the controversy over the player's departure.
Unless Man United can agree to a deal with another club for Rashford when the transfer window opens in early June, the 27-year-old will have no choice but to return to pre-season training in early July. He is even likely to participate in the "Red Devils" summer tour of 3 matches in the US.
With the tension between Rashford and Amorim, the player's return to training with his teammates at Man United, or further, a 2-week tour in the US, will be counterproductive for both sides. Rashford wants to move to a foreign club that can secure him a place in the Champions League, with Barcelona considered a suitable choice.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Catalan club will want Rashford. If so, are they willing to pay the £40 million transfer fee and the £350,000 a week salary? One of the obstacles for Rashford in his next move, whether long-term or not, is the high salary.
Villa are paying a significant portion of Rashford's salary, along with bonuses related to scoring performance and number of appearances. In that context, Rashford is said to be ready to reduce his salary to ensure a move this summer and end his career at Man United.
Rarely does a club have paid the price Man United demand and met Rashford's salary needs, even if those conditions are significantly lowered. Therefore, another loan move is Rashford's only option.
All point to an uncertain future for a player who was a role model in English football just five years ago. Rashford has also impressed off the pitch with free meals at schools for poor children. In particular, that was also the time when Rashford played the most explosively in his career.
At that time, Rashford was a model both on and off the pitch, a brilliant light at Old Trafford. Now, with the door closed at the club he has been at since he was 7 years old, Rashford sees himself at the crossroads between personal and career. He has to face a move this summer, which will most likely decide his entire career.
"We have lost a lot in the squad. People mention Rashford and Antony, we let them go without bringing in replacements.
It's a risk, but we're aiming for something more important. It seems that we are affected at the moment, but in the long run, that decision will help the club. I believe we are on the right track," Amorim said of Rashford in January.
