It has been almost 18 months since Marcus Rashford last appeared in a Manchester United shirt, with the Englishman out following a display in Viktoria Plzen in December 2024.
His absence from the Manchester derby spelled the beginning of the end for his time under Ruben Amorim, even after a brilliant start with three goals in the Portuguese’s first Premier League games in charge.
One misdemeanor too many proved the last straw, amid reports the night before his brand against Everton, when Rashford made the team for the day of the match again, before heading to Aston Villa in January.
The dream of going to Barcelona has followed, and although a permanent stay at the Camp Nou seems possible, talk of a return to Manchester has not stopped, at least now that Michael Carrick is back in the game.
|
Rashford at Man Utd |
||
|---|---|---|
|
The manager |
Games |
Goals |
|
Solskjaer |
135 |
55 |
|
Mourinho |
125 |
28 |
|
Ten Hag |
113 |
42 |
|
Rangnick |
22 |
2 |
|
Van Gaal |
18 |
8 |
|
Amorim |
6 |
3 |
|
Van Nistelrooy |
4 |
0 |
|
Carrick |
3 |
0 |
|
Total |
426 |
138 |
That return home might be necessary given the lack of depth on the edge, but could that all change this summer?
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From an era dominated by players playing on the left, United is arguably lacking in the current ranks, with Patrick Dorgu more than a left-back or winger by trade, and Matheus Cunha is not an ordinary player.
The INEOS side were looking at something of a mass exodus going forward last summer, with Rashford and Jadon Sancho both out on loan, while Alejandro Garnacho was sold to Chelsea.
Going into this summer, a midfielder is the main focus, but that left side cannot be ignored, as SportsBoom reported in recent days that United are in trouble for Bodo/Glimt sensation, Jens Petter Hauge.
As reported earlier this week, the Red Devils and rivals Manchester City are currently monitoring the situation, while Arsenal are also firmly in the mix to sign the Norwegian.
It is believed that the Champions League’s surprise package would be willing to cash in on the 26-year-old at a reasonable price, confirming that an offer of around £35m could be accepted.
Hauge, who previously played for AC Milan, has seen a statement from his country in the past, but could it be a different story this time?
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Hauge’s fruitful second spell at Bodo would suggest that the old cliche of ‘don’t go back’ is not always accurate, although in Rashford’s case, one can sense why old wounds are being mended by bringing the 28-year-old back into the fold.
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Indeed, unlike the Scandinavian – who went to Milan as a bright youth in 2020, before returning four years later – Rashford’s first exit was not a warm farewell, after several seasons on and off the field.
Despite the highs of his 30-goal season in 2022/23, the one-time player struggled for both sides, notably scoring just four league goals in 2021/22, and just seven in 2023/24.
While there have been signs of health at his current home, with 24 goals and assists in all competitions, Rashford is still not a guaranteed starter under Hansi Flick, starting just 22 of 40 games so far.
A permanent exit, be it Barca or elsewhere, would seem to be the best of all teams as far as United is concerned, with the chance there to find a good place without breaking the bank, Hauge’s way.
The Norwegian star has shone since returning to his former employers, now averaging 62 goals and 55 assists in 218 appearances for the club across his two seasons.
In the Champions League this season, Hauge proved key to his side’s run to the Last 16, scoring six goals in just 12 games, three of which came against Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
If he operates on the left side, he is very lethal in the final third, either when he crosses to his favored right foot, or beats his man with a piece of one-on-one skill.
In the Champions League, for example, he averaged 2.4 successful dribbles and 2.3 key passes per game as a marker of that quality, while Rashford averaged 0.9 and 1.3 in those two metrics, respectively.
Even if Carrick is to stay in the squad, United should avoid the easy option of bringing Rashford back into the squad, INEOS need to look to the future with exciting, low-cost signings like Hauge’s.
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