Manchester United's £26m Rashford Sale Now Seen as Major Transfer Mistake
Manchester United's hierarchy reportedly already 'regret' their decision to sell Marcus Rashford to Barcelona for a mere £26 million, with the English forward's impressive loan spell in Spain suggesting his value has nearly doubled.
From Bomb Squad to Barcelona Brilliance
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United's manager, sanctioned Rashford's loan move to Barcelona last summer after placing the England international in his so-called 'bomb squad' of unwanted players. This came after Rashford made over 400 appearances for his boyhood club, including prolific campaigns where he scored 30 goals under Erik ten Hag and impressed during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure.
The 28-year-old forward fell out of favour during the 2024-25 season under Amorim, finishing that campaign on loan at Aston Villa. While Villa expressed interest in a permanent transfer, Rashford made Barcelona his dream destination after the La Liga champions showed serious interest.
A Deal That Now Looks Like Daylight Robbery
As part of the loan agreement, Manchester United committed to selling Rashford to Barcelona permanently for just £26 million. Even at the time, this was viewed as a relatively low fee for a player of Rashford's calibre and experience.
Now, with Rashford thriving in Spain, speculation has intensified that Barcelona pulled off a significant coup. According to the Daily Star, Manchester United's board believes they could have secured almost £50 million for the forward this summer had they waited.
Rashford has been reveling in his Nou Camp experience, nearly reaching double figures for both goals and assists. His contributions have helped Barcelona maintain second place in La Liga and advance to the Champions League knockout stages.
The Growing Regret at Old Trafford
Manchester United's decision-makers reportedly suspect Barcelona secured an exceptionally cheap deal. Other clubs across Europe have taken note of Rashford's resurgence in Spain and would likely have been prepared to pay up to £50 million for a player demonstrating his current form.
Interestingly, some reports suggest Barcelona could have attempted to negotiate an even lower fee given Rashford's desire to remain at the club, though they ultimately settled on the £26 million figure.
Mixed Opinions on a Potential Return
Meanwhile, speculation has emerged about a potential return to Manchester United. Caretaker boss Michael Carrick was reportedly keen to bring Rashford back to the 'Theatre of Dreams' should he secure the permanent managerial position.
However, former United striker Louis Saha expressed reservations about such a reunion. 'I love Rashford, I love his quality,' Saha told CasinoHawks. 'I'm not surprised that he's doing well at Barcelona. He can't rewrite what happened before, and this is the best version of him we're seeing now.'
Saha continued: 'If he comes back it wouldn't completely erase everything that happened, there are bad memories there and that's not something he's dealing with at Barcelona. I think it would be strange. Sometimes you need to move on.'
The former striker concluded that while Rashford remains a talented player, a return might not benefit either party, suggesting Barcelona currently represents the best environment for the forward's continued development.
As Rashford prepares for Barcelona's upcoming La Liga match against Levante, Manchester United faces Everton in Premier League action, with the shadow of what many now consider a transfer misstep looming over Old Trafford.
