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31 August 2026

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is coming off a turbulent 18 months. The England international came through the ranks at Old Trafford and was once regarded as the next major talent to emerge at the club.

But his career took a difficult turn after Ruben Amorim arrived at the Theatre of Dreams in November 2024. Rashford’s relationship with the Portuguese coach broke down and he left the Red Devils in January 2025, joining Aston Villa on loan.

After being considered surplus to requirements in the summer of 2025, the English attacker moved to Barcelona on a season-long loan. Rashford impressed at Camp Nou, but the Catalan side decided not to turn the move into a permanent deal.

With Amorim leaving in January and Michael Carrick stepping in, the 28-year-old was brought back into United’s squad this summer. On Sunday, he made his first start at Old Trafford since December 2024 and helped the Red Devils register a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town. Harry Maguire has now spoken about his fellow England player’s return to the club.

Speaking after the weekend win, as quoted by The Independent, Maguire said Rashford is an asset for United when he is fit and content. The experienced defender said: “It’s been really good since he came in. He’s trained really well and us as players, if Marcus wants to be here and wants to work and wants to improve and wants to help the team, of course, we’re willing to have him in the squad.”

“He’s a great talent. You’ve seen that he’s always a threat. I think [against Ipswich], he was a threat constantly, and I think he could still do a lot more and I think he’ll say that he can do more. I think if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven, keeps hungry, and he is a great asset to have.”

Rashford scored 30 goals in the 2022/23 season under former manager Erik ten Hag, and that remains the best scoring return of his career. Unfortunately, the English forward was unable to build on that display and went through a difficult 18-month spell before his temporary departure from Old Trafford.

Maguire, however, indicated that his countryman should not shoulder all the blame for those struggles.

The England defender pointed out that every player experiences highs and lows during a career. He continued: “You’ve got to remember that Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club as well. Like when you play at this club for numerous years, there’s going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come everyone piles on you and everyone, and that’s part and parcel again for playing this club.”

Maguire also stressed that the team’s own problems did not help Rashford, adding: “Marcus was here for, I don’t know how many years, and every season wasn’t going to be perfect because as a team and as a club, we haven’t been perfect from top to bottom and we haven’t been challenging at the top end when you’re winning Premier Leagues year after year after year, it’s easy as a player to mingle into that group and play well.

“So Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United, and when that happens and the team doesn’t deliver, players get dug out and he was one of them at that stage. I’ve been through it. Everyone’s been through it at this club.”

“He’s come back, he’s trained over the summer you can tell and he’s come back really fit, sharp and we’re excited to have him and hopefully he can chip in with goals.”

Rashford was one of the better performers on the pitch against Ipswich, regularly troubling the opposition and also putting in hard work off the ball. United have recently lacked a player of his quality in the squad, and the Englishman could yet prove to be Carrick’s secret weapon this season.