‘Marcus Rashford to outlast Ruben Amorim at Man United after Barcelona news’
Marcus Rashford’s career at Man United may not be over despite the winger agreeing a deal to join Barcelona on loan.
Since Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s departure from the Red Devils in 2018, the club’s number 10 shirt has belonged to Rashford.
But on 19 July, Matheus Cunha stepped out onto the pitch of the Strawberry Arena for a friendly against Leeds with the number on his back, marking a new era for the club.
On the very same day, Barcelona approached United with an offer for Rashford on an initial loan with an offer to buy the winger next summer [The Athletic].
However, despite the offer, the England international’s career at Old Trafford may not be over just yet.
Ruben Amorim under pressure to succeed
Ruben Amorim oversaw the worst season in United’s recent history as their 15th-placed finish last term was the lowest since the club was relegated in the 1973/74 campaign.
The Portuguese manager’s start to life in Manchester has been a turbulent one. He inherited a side that was low on confidence after Erik ten Hag’s dismal spell in charge.
However, Amorim has done little to lift the mood at Old Trafford. The 40-year-old has won just 38% of his games in charge of his new side, and the 3-4-2-1 tactical set-up he insists upon using has left many of the players available to him obsolete.
Man United have responded not only by bringing in Matheus Cunha and making an approach for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, two players who have experience playing in a similar system.
But if the Red Devils don’t bounce back and make a concerted push for European football next season, it is difficult to see Amorim surviving.
Jim Ratcliffe has done his best to accommodate the former Sporting CP manager, but as evidenced by his decision to sack Ten Hag midway through last season, the British businessman will not hesitate to make a decisive decision if things aren’t working.
Barcelona unlikely to buy Marcus Rashford
Rashford may be closing in on a deal to join Barcelona, but there are few guarantees that the Catalan giants will trigger his buy-out clause.
The Englishman will be 28 years old this time next year, meaning that he will have little to offer by way of resale value in the future.
This matters immensely for Barcelona. Whilst they are hardly a selling side, they have been beset by financial issues in recent years, with a €15million (£13m) [ESPN] fine from UEFA the latest setback suffered by Hansi Flick’s team.
Ruben Amorim departure sets up Man United return for Rashford
Finance expert Dan Plumley told Football Insider that the main driving force behind Rashford’s departure from Man United is Amorim.
The pair fell out soon after the Portuguese manager’s arrival last season, and it has been clear all summer long that there is little scope for reconciliation.
However, given the lifespan for a manager in charge at Old Trafford is as short as it has ever been, there may still be time for Rashford to revitalise his career with his boyhood club.
Man United’s pre-season draw with Leeds highlighted the same issues that existed last term, which does not bode well for their manager.
Given that Barcelona are unlikely to have the funds, or the desire to trigger Rashford’s buy-out clause, and when taking into account that it seems very feasible that Amorim suffers the same fate as Ten Hag did last year, the 27-year-old may well find himself returning to his boyhood club next summer.
But this time next year, rather than being a leading member of the “bomb squad”, Rashford may be the headline act of yet another new-look United side.