Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has called for Marcus Rashford to make a dramatic return to Old Trafford in the wake of the club's surprise decision to sack manager Ruben Amorim.
Amorim's Sudden Exit Stuns Old Trafford
The Portuguese manager lost his job on Monday, January 5, 2026, following a period of disappointing results and reported tensions behind the scenes. Amorim's departure, confirmed by the club, leaves him with the unwanted record of the worst win rate (31.9%) of any permanent United manager in the Premier League era.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Hargreaves admitted the timing of the dismissal was a shock. "I was surprised, and I think everybody was surprised by the decision to sack Amorim," he said. "United weren't playing exceptionally well, but they were still in a position where finishing in the top four or five was realistic."
Hargreaves suggested the recent managerial change at Chelsea, where Enzo Maresca was moved on, may have influenced United's hierarchy. "I think that situation had an impact on United and I think we might see a lot of changes in the next month or so," he added, describing it as a "massive domino" falling.
Hargreaves Makes Plea for Rashford Comeback
The fallout from Amorim's tenure has direct implications for several players, most notably Marcus Rashford. The England forward was loaned to Aston Villa last season under Amorim's instruction and was encouraged to leave again last summer. He is currently on a successful loan spell at Barcelona, with six goals and eight assists in 16 games.
Despite Rashford's stated desire to join Barcelona permanently, Hargreaves is adamant the "special player" should return to Manchester. "I hope that Marcus comes back because he's a special player," Hargreaves stated. "I don't know what happened between Marcus and Ruben, but I don't think there's any denying his talent."
He argued that Rashford had been burdened with too much responsibility at United, a situation that would not have occurred in past successful teams. "In our team, he would've been the third or fourth guy, so he wouldn't have to bare all the responsibility," Hargreaves explained.
What Next for Manchester United?
With Amorim gone, former United midfielder Darren Fletcher has taken interim charge. The club is expected to appoint a caretaker manager to see out the season before naming a permanent successor in the summer. Early favourites for the role include Oliver Glasner and Thomas Tuchel.
Hargreaves also believes the change could revive the United career of young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who had asked to leave after falling out of favour. "With Kobbie, I think he'll be straight back into the team," Hargreaves insisted.
Amorim becomes the sixth permanent manager to be dismissed since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, highlighting the ongoing instability at the club. United's immediate focus turns to their next Premier League fixture, a match against Burnley on Wednesday under Fletcher's temporary stewardship.
