Wayne Rooney has admitted he’s saddened to see that Marcus Rashford won’t be returning to Manchester United.
The forward is poised to complete a permanent move away from the club this summer, whether that be to Barcelona or another suitor.
What did Rooney have to say about Rashford?
“I think it’s a shame that he left Manchester United. He’s a Manchester lad,” said the Red Devils legend on his podcast with BBC Sport.
“He’s the one player who’s got a chance to get my [goalscoring] record there. Records are there for someone to break, and for a Manchester lad to do it, I think, would be great.”
“But over the last few years, he hasn’t been present there,” Rooney continued.
“We know what a good player he is, so he probably needed that change. It’s a shame to see it go the way it has because I’d still love him there.”
“It’s a shame that Marcus Rashford left Manchester United”
Could Rashford still be at Man Utd next season? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/Sw963wY0Jg
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 9, 2026
How Rashford has fared over the last year
Prior to his half-season loan spell with Aston Villa in 2024/2025, which came after a falling out with then-United manager Ruben Amorim, Rashford had only ever represented his boyhood side.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 426 | 138 | 79 |
Rashford’s complete record for United
Then, when his stint in claret and blue came to an end last summer, he completed a switch to Barcelona for the entirety of the 2025/2026 campaign.
The 28-year-old went on to win the La Liga and Spanish Super Cup, while racking up a stellar record of 14 goals and 14 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.
However, his best efforts haven’t proven enough for the Catalan giants to activate his £26 million buy clause, at least not yet, anyway.
Rashford’s future: The state of play
They have been dragging their heels over the fee for the last few months, yet went and agreed a shock £70m deal for a like-for-like replacement in the form of Anthony Gordon last week.
The transfer cast even more doubt over Rashford’s Camp Nou future; he was already navigating a rotational role under Hansi Flick, so the addition of Gordon wouldn’t have helped his case by any means.
Marcus Rashford in the league phase 😮💨#UCL pic.twitter.com/QshhNx8Fro
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 23, 2026
Should the Blaugrana opt against signing him, reports have suggested Bayern Munich, who were in for Gordon themselves, are now considering a swoop for Rashford.
Author
