According to the Manchester Evening News, Rashford returned to Manchester United after 18 months, rejoining team training for the first time at Carrington on Sunday, where he received a warm welcome from fans present.
When Rashford returned to Manchester United, the club had already prepared a welcome lineup for him. This seemed like the start of a new chapter at his boyhood club, the only question being how long this story could last.
The sight of Rashford being greeted by a large number of Manchester United fans, wearing the club's shirt, and preparing to train with teammates was something no one thought they would see again. Neither Rashford himself nor the Old Trafford management expected it.
The clearest sign was that everyone thought this story was already over, as Rashford's number 10 shirt had been given to Matheus Cunha last summer. Rashford once represented the past, while players like Cunha were seen as the future.
But circumstances brought the player and the club back together. The player, a lifelong Manchester United fan, once hailed as the pride of Manchester on the front and back pages of newspapers, has now made 426 appearances for Manchester United, yet it feels like he is standing at the door of his last chance.
Rashford has not played for Manchester United since December 2024. Patric-Dorgu, Heaven, Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Karl Darlow, Andrey Santos, and Tielemans have not yet played alongside Rashford. Most haven't even trained with him.
However, Manchester United has opened the door for his reintegration into the team, and Rashford is reportedly willing to step in and embrace his role. He seemed in good spirits upon his arrival at Carton House on Sunday, but this week is crucial. Rashford and Mainoo will undergo fitness tests on Monday, and are likely to rejoin full training on Tuesday.
Rashford's personal life is reportedly stable again, and he is ready to accept a return to Manchester United. They report he will take the number 14 shirt, the one he wore at Barcelona last season, although this has not yet been officially communicated to the entire squad in Ireland.
Tensions are inevitable as he resumes training with his teammates and Michael Carrick this week. Carrick's presence on the coaching staff will aid this reunion. He is calm, pragmatic, and has maintained a positive long-term relationship with Rashford, with whom he has communicated throughout the summer.
However, Rashford did not train with the first team last summer, instead being assigned to the "bomb squad," making this his first real return to Manchester United's official training ground in 18 months. According to the plan, he will prepare for the match against AC Milan in Wrocław on Saturday (CEST). That match will be his first appearance in 19 months, and the man who seemingly ended his career will be sitting in the opposing dugout. The appearance of Alessandro Amorim will also be an interesting highlight.
By then, Manchester United and Rashford will have a clearer understanding of whether they both wish to continue working together. If Rashford is willing to integrate into the team and is in good enough training condition, the benefits of keeping him will clearly outweigh the drawbacks.
Of course, a parting of ways in the final weeks of the transfer window cannot be ruled out. But if that were to happen, it would depend on a top European club being interested in him, and Manchester United feeling they have the time and resources to find a replacement. For now, at least, all signs point to Rashford wearing red for the entire season, rekindling a Manchester United career that seemed to be over. What happens in Ireland this week could define the contours of this direction.
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