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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has revealed that Marcus Rashford will rejoin the squad this week as the club continues its preseason training camp.
United had been eager to sell Rashford at the close of last season following a productive loan spell at Barcelona, but the Spanish champions chose not to exercise their purchase option, and a release clause in his contract — reportedly valued at $54 million (£40 million) — was subsequently left to lapse.
With uncertainty still hanging over Rashford's future — he is among several players to have received a wage increase tied to United's return to the Champions League — Carrick confirmed the forward will soon be back in training with the club he grew up supporting.
"I've played alongside him. I was on the pitch the day he made his debut, so there's a shared history between us," Carrick said following Saturday's 1–1 stalemate against Paris Saint-Germain.
"We'll have a full squad together this week in Dublin. We head straight there and spend a few days with everyone back in one group.
"Marcus is part of that, along with Kobbie [Mainoo] and Lisandro [Martínez]. We're looking forward to having them back."
Rashford Offers Man Utd All-New Dimension
United supporters may carry mixed memories of Rashford, who fell out of favour under predecessor Ruben Amorim due to concerns over his commitment in training, but the truth is he remains a genuine Premier League-calibre threat capable of troubling any backline.
His tally of 14 goals and 14 assists for Barcelona last season demonstrates that Rashford is still performing at a high level, and while questions may linger over whether he justifies his status as the club's top earner, the financial side of things is not Carrick's concern — his focus is on helping Rashford reproduce that kind of form back at Old Trafford.
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The left wing has been a position of concern within the squad. Matheus Cunha, primarily a striker, and fullback Patrick Dorgu have both been deployed there under Carrick, and while each has acquitted himself reasonably well, the prospect of reintegrating a natural winger into the setup is something the new manager will welcome.
Rashford will be given no assurances regarding playing time — Bruno Fernandes may be the only guaranteed starter — but Carrick is expected to offer him a clean slate and a real chance to stake his claim for a regular spot in the XI.
Carrick has maintained Amorim's insistence on high standards, meaning Rashford will still need to prove he belongs in the squad, and any dip in his training intensity will likely result in him being dropped. That said, United will be hopeful that a manager with a more personal connection to Rashford can ensure the club never has to endure a repeat of the difficulties that have overshadowed the past two seasons at Old Trafford.