Juan Mata: Marcus Rashford still has something to offer at Old Trafford | OneFootball

Marcus Rashford is expected to leave Manchester United this summer.

Head coach Ruben Amorim and the United academy graduate had a falling out just as the Portuguese tactician was settling in at Carrington.

Since then, the forward has not featured for United, and it is unlikely he will anytime soon.

Not even a decent second half of the 2024–25 season on loan at Villa Park has changed Amorim or INEOS’s stance on his future.

They want him gone, and that much is clear, especially after promising new signing Matheus Cunha the number 10 shirt and following through with it.

While Rashford is the kind of player Europe’s heavyweights might once have jumped at the chance to sign, that is no longer the case.

Although Bayern Munich and Barcelona have been linked with his services, neither club sees him as a first-choice signing.

Bayern remain undecided on which winger to target as they look to replace Leroy Sane.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are interested in Rashford but prefer Luis Diaz and are thought to be hopeful of landing the Liverpool star.

At the moment, while the United loanee is expected to depart, it remains a mystery where he will end up, with a £40 million price tag hanging over his head.

Mata does not think Rashford should leave Man United

So far, no suitor has made a serious push to sign Rashford. So what if his Old Trafford exit falls through?

Four goals and six assists in 17 games for Aston Villa (before injury cut his loan spell short) suggest the Red Devil still has that killer attacking instinct.

Some argue that, if given a second chance at Old Trafford, he might still have something to offer.

Juan Mata, speaking to The Athletic, could not help but weigh in on the Rashford situation.

The Old Trafford favourite recalled how blown away he was by Rashford’s breakthrough.

“I saw his first training session with us. I love him. As a kid, I called him ‘the wonderkid’,” he said.

“The way he played was fearless—you could feel he could win a game by himself at any time when he was playing at his best.”

Mata went on to admit he still believes the 27-year-old has something to offer at his boyhood club.

“As a Man United fan and as a friend of Marcus, I wish that he can succeed here because it’s his club, his boyhood club,” he added.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if he stays and he can actually be happy and enjoy it, I think it will be a win-win situation for both the club and him.”

Amorim may have no room for Rashford in his attack

With INEOS intent on refreshing United’s frontline, it is hard to see them reversing their stance on Rashford.

A new striker and two number 10s (Cunha already among them) are expected to form the core of United’s new-look attack.

Rashford, understandably, would not want to warm the bench and risk missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Granted permission to miss the start of pre-season to find a new home, it feels like he is done at Manchester.

Hopefully, he secures that big move. It would be brilliant to see him go elsewhere and shine.

Come next summer, as we watch the Three Lions impress at the World Cup, perhaps we will be raving that he was one of ours.

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social