Michael Carrick’s early impact as Manchester United’s interim manager has changed the tone around Old Trafford. Two statement wins in his first matches have not only stabilized the dressing room but also sparked serious talk that he could be trusted with the role on a permanent basis.
And if that happens, there is one decision Carrick already seems clear about: he wants Marcus Rashford back.
Rashford’s departure from United was not a simple transfer story. It was the result of a broken relationship, public criticism, and a dramatic fall in status under previous management. Now, with the forward rediscovering his best form in Spain, Carrick reportedly believes the club made a mistake letting him drift away.
Rashford’s final months at United were tense. Under Ruben Amorim, he was pushed out of the picture entirely. The Portuguese coach made headlines with blunt remarks about the forward’s performances, effectively closing the door on any return to the starting lineup.
A loan spell at Aston Villa did little to repair his image, and by the end of the 2024-2025 season, it was clear his future lay elsewhere. Barcelona stepped in, offering a fresh start in a system very different from what he had experienced in England.
That change proved decisive.
Under Hansi Flick, Rashford adapted to a high-intensity pressing structure that forced him to evolve his game. He has already contributed nine goals and twelve assists, becoming an important piece in Barcelona’s attacking rotation. His own words after a recent Champions League performance revealed how much tactical learning was involved in this transformation.
He described how constant pressure on the ball and defensive work from the front line reshaped his understanding of the game. It was not just a change of scenery. It was a change of mindset.
Barcelona reportedly hold a purchase option worth around $33 million, and all signs indicate they are seriously considering activating it.
Which makes Carrick’s interest complicated.
Carrick knows Rashford from a different time. He shared a dressing room with him during his final playing years and saw firsthand the confidence, explosiveness, and personality that made Rashford one of the most exciting academy graduates of the modern era.
From Carrick’s perspective, the issue was never talent. It was environment.
Sources close to the situation suggest Carrick believes the player was mishandled, publicly exposed, and deprived of the trust that young forwards often need when going through dips in form. The interim manager sees Rashford’s resurgence in Spain as proof that the problem was contextual rather than permanent decline.
If Carrick is confirmed as permanent coach, one of his first strategic moves would be to open the door for Rashford’s return and attempt to rebuild that relationship.
