Michael Carrick refuses to rule out Man Utd return for Marcus Rashford

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has been “massively disappointed” with some recent refereeing decisions. Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

Michael Carrick has refused to rule out a Manchester United return for Marcus Rashford amid uncertainty over the England international’s future at Barcelona.

The 28-year-old has not played for his boyhood club since December 2024 and ended last season on loan at Aston Villa before joining the LaLiga champions for the 2025-26 campaign.

Rashford has enjoyed a fruitful spell in Spain but it has emerged that Barcelona are unsure about activating the reported 30million euros (£26.1m) clause to make the move permanent.

The forward’s future looks in limbo ahead of a summer he hopes to spend with England at the World Cup, raising the prospect of a return to the fold at Old Trafford.

United head coach Carrick, whose contract expires at the end of the season, said: “I just think there’s decisions to be made in time, really, on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation.

“But at this point in time nothing’s been decided. And it will be, because it has to be at a certain point, but at this stage, there’s nothing to say.” Rashford’s wages returning to their maximum if United qualify for the Champions League could complicate an exit given his deal runs until 2028.

Carrick’s side can take a step closer to sealing that spot at sixth-placed Chelsea on Saturday evening, when Kobbie Mainoo could return from injury having become a key player under Carrick.

The 20-year-old’s future looked in jeopardy under former boss Ruben Amorim and Harry Maguire, suspended for the trip to Stamford Bridge, is another whose turnaround could offer Rashford hope.

“Certainly from my perspective, whoever’s here, I want to work with, make the best out of and help them improve,” Carrick said.

“So at the moment, it’s this squad of players, and there’s obviously players on loan, and whatever happens with that later on will happen with that later on.

“But certainly, as a coach and as a leader of a squad, we want to get the best out of everyone as much as we possibly can.

“I’m not going on the Marcus individual one because I think, like I’ve already touched on, I think to comment either way this stage it’s not the right thing to do because there’s uncertainties for sure.

“But, for me, as I said, individual players who I’m able to work with in this part of the squad, I enjoy doing that and trying to get the best out of them.”

Meanwhile Liam Rosenior insisted Cole Palmer is fully fit for Chelsea’s run-in as they fight to resurrect their dwindling Champions League prospects.

“Cole is fully fit,” he said.

“Every player in world football goes through three or four-game spells where it doesn’t quite happen or the last pass or the last shot (is missing).

"But the best players in the world stay consistent in their process in what they do. If Cole does that, the rest will take care of itself.”