Manchester United's Marcus Rashford transfer saga stalls as Barcelona declines buy option

Barcelona's season‑long loan of England forward Marcus Rashford for the 2025‑26 campaign included a €30 million purchase option that expired on 15 June. The Catalan club chose not to activate the option, opting instead to sign winger Anthony Gordon for €69 million.

Rashford returned to Manchester United, where new permanent manager Michael Carrick has indicated the club is open to his stay despite the player's high wages (over £300,000 per week). Several Premier League sides have expressed interest, but Rashford prefers to remain at Old Trafford rather than join another English club. Bayern Munich showed interest earlier in the summer, but that interest has waned.

With no buyer emerging and the buy‑option dead, United may have to keep Rashford on their roster or seek another transfer before the window closes.