Marcus Rashford sent harsh message as Man Utd star's agents 'take action'

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Marcus Rashford now appears destined to return to Manchester United in the summer, with Barcelona reportedly opting against making his loan spell permanent. The forward has been plying his trade at the Spanish giants throughout the season.

The Catalan club has the option to secure the move on a permanent basis for approximately £26 million when the summer transfer window opens. Reports indicate they have made unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a reduced fee with United.

Despite earlier suggestions that Barcelona were prepared to trigger the option, it now appears they have had a change of heart . Spanish outlet SPORT claim that manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco are in agreement that they are unwilling to commit the necessary funds to both the transfer fee and wages, with the overall cost of completing the deal described as 'too high'.

Following a promising start to his stint at the club, Rashford has fallen out of favour in the starting eleven, featuring in the starting line-up in just two of the last eight La Liga fixtures. Across his 44 appearances in all competitions this season, the forward has netted 12 goals and provided 13 assists.

The decision not to sign Rashford permanently is said to be 'practically final', and Barca are instead exploring alternative options in the position at a 'much more affordable price.' The stance will leave United facing a significant choice come the summer.

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They could either welcome the 28-year-old back into the first-team fold for the 2026/27 campaign or seek to offload him to another club. The report adds that Rashford is fully aware of his situation, with his representatives already working behind the scenes on possible solutions.

He remains under contract at United until 2028 and is reportedly 'open' to a return to the club. He burst onto the scene at Old Trafford during the 2015/16 season, netting eight times in 18 appearances across all competitions.

In total, he has found the back of the net 138 times in 426 outings for the club — a tally he could yet add to next season.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe, however, is reluctant to have Rashford back on the books at United. The club currently has no intention of reintegrating the player into the squad, even if Michael Carrick remains as head coach.

Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at fellow Premier League outfit Aston Villa . Across his 17 appearances for the club, he scored four times and registered 16 assists.

Speaking about Rashford's future earlier this month, Flick didn't give too much away.

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