Jose Mourinho is reportedly considering a shock move for Marcus Rashford, with the Portuguese manager eyeing a reunion with the Manchester United star at Real Madrid. According to reports, Mourinho is being lined up for a sensational return to the Bernabeu, 13 years after his explosive first stint, amid turmoil at the club.
Mourinho's Potential Return to Real Madrid
Club president Florentino Perez, who recently held an extraordinary press conference criticizing the Spanish media, sees Mourinho as the only man capable of restoring order and uniting a fractured dressing room. Mourinho is said to be more motivated than ever, with reports from AS indicating he has made two key demands: unwavering control over first-team matters and a decisive role in transfer decisions.
Rashford's Situation at Barcelona
According to Miguel Delaney's Inside Football Newsletter for The Independent, Mourinho would be interested in bringing Rashford to Real Madrid. The England international is currently on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, having joined the Catalan giants last summer with an option to buy for £26 million. Despite contributing 14 goals and 14 assists this season, Barcelona are reluctant to meet that price and are seeking to renegotiate terms. Rashford is keen to stay at the Camp Nou, but United prefers a permanent sale.
Why Mourinho Wants Rashford
The newsletter claims Mourinho would 'love' for Real Madrid to swoop in and sign Rashford for two reasons: his good existing relationship with the player and the added bonus of causing disruption for Barcelona. Mourinho managed Rashford for two and a half seasons at United, taking over shortly after the young forward's spectacular breakthrough under Louis van Gaal. During that time, United won the Europa League and League Cup, with Rashford scoring 24 goals across two full seasons under Mourinho.
Mourinho's Past Comments on Rashford
During their second season together, Rashford's game time came under scrutiny, with Mourinho passionately defending his handling of the then-20-year-old. 'Marcus is a fantastic boy,' Mourinho said in March 2018. 'He is also very grounded and, for sure, we love him, and we believe in him and he's going to have the chances to keep developing.' However, a month before being sacked, Mourinho named Rashford, along with Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, and Jesse Lingard, as players who 'lack maturity,' describing them as 'boys with great potential but who still are lacking.'
With Real Madrid's interest and Mourinho's potential return, Rashford's future remains uncertain, but a move to the Spanish capital could be on the cards.
