Marcus Rashford told he must make Man United statement and accept new role

Marcus Rashford must make an ‘almighty statement’ to prove he still wants to be at Manchester United.

That’s the view of former England international Micky Gray, who argues there could be a way back at Old Trafford for Rashford.

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Rashford hasn’t played for Man United since the back end of 2024, spending time on loan at Aston Villa then Barcelona.

However, with Barcelona not signing the England forward permanently this summer – having already bought his international teammate Anthony Gordon – Rashford is back with Man United for pre-season after helping his country to third place at the World Cup.

That’s after talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara urged Tottenham to ‘break the bank’ to sign him.

Rashford must show ‘full commitment’

But if Rashford is to be reintegrated successfully into the Old Trafford set-up by Michael Carrick, he has to show he’s all in, feels Gray.

Speaking to Hugh Woozencroft on talkSPORT’s Sunday Session, the Sunderland legend said: “It’s not a group full of Roy Keanes; it’s a very delicate changing room.

“Rashford said he wanted a new challenge and unless you can be 100 per cent sure he is completely committed to Man United… he’s shown he wasn’t fully committed the last time he was at he club… how can you be sure he’s going to be this time around?”

Rashford first left Man United on loan to join Aston Villa for the second half of the 2024/25 season.

He subsequently spent the 2025/26 campaign with Barcelona, scoring 14 goals in all competitions that saw him win the LaLiga title and regain his spot in the England squad.

But Gray warned the 28-year-old he’ll have to accept playing less of a starring role back at Man United, should he remain there.

“There’s a few things here,” he continued. “The most important one is, if Rashford has a future at Man United, he has to do an almighty statement of why he wants to be at Man United and what the reasons were to leave the club in the first place. I think that’s a priority that he has to do.

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“If he does stay then he’s got to get used to being a bit-part player. He’s not first on the list; he’s not going to be playing every week…[Bryan] Mbuemo, [Matheus] Cunha, [Benjamin] Sesko, Amad to name a few. They’ve caught up to and if not surpassed Rashford.

“Spain is not England. He did very well, but he can play at Barcelona at a different level to what he can at Man United. He can’t deny that the Premier League is 100mph – he’s going to have to get himself super fit in pre-season.

“We saw the good and the bad of Rashford for England at the World Cup… can Man United utilise him in a way they can expect to see the good side and bad side? If they do that and he stays… Rashford has got to expect that he isn’t going to play every game.”

Rashford returns to find his number taken

Rashford appeared in six of England’s eight matches at the World Cup, scoring in the Three Lions’ opening 4-2 win over Croatia.

His last outing for Man United came in a Europa League victory away to Viktoria Plzen in December 2024.

The Red Devils academy product has yet to be allocated a squad number since returning to Old Trafford, with Matheus Cunha taking his old No.10 shirt last summer.