That you never say never where the game is concerned is also true because strange things can, and often do, happen. Take the situation of England international Marcus Rashford, as just one example.
Back in December 2024, he was so far out of the Man Utd picture under Ruben Amorim that a move away was the only sensible option, and England honours appeared a distant dream for the attacker. A reasonably successful loan spell at Aston Villa was then followed up by a loan switch to Barcelona, after Rashford’s ‘come and get me’ plea to the Catalans was heard loud and clear.
To the player’s credit, he enjoyed a stunning campaign, which ended with a LaLiga title and, one might have expected, his loan move being made permanent. However, despite 14 goals and 11 assists in 49 games in all competitions, and more than enough evidence that there was nothing wrong with his attitude and work rate, Deco and Hansi Flick decided that Barca wouldn’t be taking up their option on Rashford.
Now coached by Michael Carrick, who was the Red Devils captain when Rashford made his debut as a youngster, there’s a school of thought that the Geordie might be prepared to wipe the slate clean for his former teammate and give him every chance to re-establish himself at the Theatre of Dreams.
That front line will be difficult for Rashford to break into; however, he’s perfectly capable of doing so, and that would give Carrick the conundrum that all managers profess to want to have, which is competition for places in every position. Whether or not the player begins the season at United or elsewhere, he’s turned his career around when it was heading for the doldrums, and that’s worth celebrating.
