Report: Rashford and Garnacho among five players pushing for United exits | OneFootball

Report: Rashford and Garnacho lead group seeking United exits amid Barca interest

Manchester United’s summer overhaul has taken a dramatic turn as five high-profile players, including Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, have informed the club of their desire to leave. The timing, just ahead of the club’s first pre-season fixture, signals further turbulence as manager Ruben Amorim reshapes a squad that finished the previous campaign under scrutiny.

BBC Sport reports that Rashford, Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia have communicated their intention to seek new opportunities elsewhere. United have responded by delaying their return to Carrington until later in July, offering them space to resolve their futures.

The club, however, remains open to reintegrating them into pre-season plans if no transfer materialises. Each player will still have access to medical and training facilities during the process.

Among those leaving, Rashford is the most high-profile. At 27, the England forward has experienced a tumultuous few months. Exiled by Amorim in December, Rashford spent the latter half of the season on loan at Aston Villa, contributing four goals and six assists in 17 appearances.

His decline in favour came amid clear differences with Amorim. In February, the United boss said he “couldn’t get Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it.”

Rashford had reportedly been prepared to return to United’s training ground this week. However, with his role uncertain and his shirt number reassigned, he may now accelerate his exit. The forward is valued at £40 million by United, though no bids have been received. He recently hinted at his preferred destination, saying he “would like to play alongside forward Lamine Yamal at Barcelona”.

Garnacho and Sancho also on departure list

Garnacho, 21, has similarly fallen out of favour under Amorim. Left out of the squad for the final match of the Premier League season, he was privately informed that he could depart this summer. Like Rashford, the Argentine is regarded as a marketable talent, one United had previously considered integral to their future.

Jadon Sancho’s trajectory has been equally complex. After a turbulent stint at United, the winger joined Chelsea on loan for the 2024-25 season. However, the London club declined to make the deal permanent, even paying a £5 million penalty to terminate the option. He now returns to Manchester, facing an uncertain future, with both parties seemingly open to parting ways.

Antony, another expensive signing from the post-Ferguson era, spent last season at Real Betis in La Liga, while Malacia played his football in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. Both are surplus to requirements as Amorim begins his first full pre-season in charge.

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Further reinforcing Rashford’s likely departure is the club’s decision to reassign his shirt. Matheus Cunha, recently signed from Wolves for £62.5 million, will wear United’s number 10 next season. Rashford had held the number since 2018, following in the footsteps of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

United were understood to have informed Rashford of the decision ahead of the announcement. Cunha arrives with pedigree, scoring 31 goals in 76 games for Wolves and signing a five-year contract with an option for a further year. The symbolic nature of the shirt change makes clear where Rashford now stands in the club’s pecking order.

United face crucial summer of decisions

United’s pre-season begins with a friendly against Leeds on 19 July in Stockholm before the squad departs for the Premier League Summer Series in the United States. Whether any of the five discontented players are involved remains to be seen.

Ruben Amorim, appointed to bring identity and discipline back to Old Trafford, appears unafraid to make bold decisions. His insistence on professional standards and tactical flexibility has seen him clash with several players used to different leadership styles.

For Rashford, this could represent a natural conclusion to a 20-year association with the club he joined as a child. With 138 goals in 426 appearances, he remains one of United’s most prolific modern forwards. Yet, his form and application have been questioned repeatedly, both internally and externally.

Barcelona have been linked with Rashford in the past, and his recent comments about playing with Yamal will only intensify speculation. The Catalan giants, seeking to add physicality and finishing quality to their forward line, may view the England international as a cut-price solution given his £40 million valuation.

As United prepare for another transitional season, this wave of departures could either accelerate the rebuild or further expose a fragile structure still searching for consistency in the post-Ferguson era.