Marcus Rashford returning to Man Utd would kill his career – he must stay far away | Football | Sport

If Marcus Rashford suddenly wakes up one morning and decides to press the self-destruct button on his career, returning to Manchester United would be a great place to start. The forward hasn’t played for the Red Devils in over a year after falling out with former manager Ruben Amorim. Since leaving Old Trafford last January, he has spent time on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona.

While his spell at Villa Park didn’t exactly set the world alight, Rashford has enjoyed a new lease of life since arriving at the Nou Camp in the summer. He is an important member of a top team that could win the league title and the Champions League at the end of the season. It’s everything he wanted at United, but in a nicer city with a much warmer climate and much less rain.

There are almost no logical reasons why Rashford would consider returning to United ahead of next season, apart from the fact he remains contracted to them.

Barcelona have the option to buy the 28-year-old in the summer and everything suggests that would be an outcome to suit all parties.

However, it’s been claimed that United could try and convince him to give them another chance, citing their improved fortunes since Amorim was sacked last month.

Granted, they already look a much better side and Michael Carrick has shown that he isn’t afraid to reinstate forgotten men. Just look at Kobbie Mainoo, who was treated as an afterthought by Amorim but is now a crucial cog in United’s midfield machine.

Rashford, though, shouldn’t even consider going back to United for more than a split second. He must ignore whatever they say and keep pushing for a permanent stay at Barcelona, no matter what happens between now and the end of the season.

The truth is that United haven’t suddenly become a model club in the space of just a few weeks. Yes, their recent form has been impressive, but it has only papered over the cracks of a crumbling football institution.

They are still very much a basket case, run by clueless American suits and a loud-mouthed British entrepreneur who has proven with his recent comments that you don’t need to be smart to be a multi-billionaire.

United’s only redeeming quality is Carrick, who isn’t expected to get the job on a permanent basis because club chiefs think they can find somebody better.

There’s a high likelihood that they will make a hash of appointing their next manager, only to be left back at square one in the middle of next season when it inevitably goes wrong once again.

Rashford, therefore, can’t allow himself to be duped by any false promises made to him by those in power at Old Trafford. In fact, he would be much better off staying as far away from the Theatre of Leaks as he could possibly get.