Football has a habit of producing unexpected twists, and Marcus Rashford’s recent career journey is a perfect example of why you should never say never in the game.

Just 18 months ago, it appeared almost impossible to imagine Rashford returning to Manchester United. Now, following an impressive spell at Barcelona, a comeback at Old Trafford could once again be a realistic possibility.

Rashford appeared to have no future at United

In December 2024, Rashford had fallen so far out of favour under Ruben Amorim that leaving Manchester United seemed like the only sensible option. At the time, even a return to the England setup looked increasingly unlikely.

A relatively successful loan spell at Aston Villa was followed by a move to Barcelona, after Rashford made it clear that he was keen on a switch to the Catalan giants.

The forward ultimately enjoyed an excellent campaign at Camp Nou, helping Barcelona win the LaLiga title. With 14 goals and 11 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, there seemed to be a strong case for the Spanish club to make his move permanent.

However, despite his impressive numbers and evidence of a strong attitude and work ethic, Deco and Hansi Flick decided against activating Barcelona’s option to sign him permanently

Carrick could give Rashford a fresh start

While the decision was undoubtedly disappointing for the 28-year-old, his revival in Spain has left him with far more options than he had 18 months ago.

One possibility is a return to Manchester United, now managed by Michael Carrick.

Carrick was captain of the Red Devils when Rashford made his first-team debut as a youngster, and there is a growing argument that the new manager could be willing to wipe the slate clean and give his former teammate an opportunity to rebuild his career at Old Trafford.

Such a turnaround would have seemed unthinkable during Amorim’s reign. Yet Rashford now appears more than willing to fight for another chance to make an impact for his boyhood club.

Rashford’s impressive Barcelona numbers

Beyond his goals and assists, Rashford’s underlying statistics during his time in Spain provide further evidence that his performances deserved recognition.

He recorded 10 fast breaks, matching the tally of Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and trailing only Raphinha and Fermin Lopez among his teammates.

His 56.79% shot accuracy was also impressive, with only Ferran Torres recording a better figure at 62.82%. Rashford’s 21.43% shot conversion rate was similarly close to Torres’ 21.65%.

The comparison is particularly interesting given their different roles. Torres frequently operated as Barcelona’s central striker when Robert Lewandowski was unavailable, whereas Rashford was primarily deployed on the wing.

Rashford also registered 117 shots, putting him second among Barcelona players behind Yamal, who attempted 168. Fermin was the only other player to surpass 100 attempts, with 112.

Those figures suggest there is plenty for Carrick to work with if he decides to bring Rashford back into the fold.

His creativity was another positive. Rashford produced 67 chances while completing 83.74% of his passes, a figure that compared favourably with several Manchester United players last season.

He also took 132 corners, with a 23.7% success rate, showing another area where he could potentially contribute despite room for improvement.

Rashford did everything to earn a permanent deal

Rashford’s commitment was also evident in his defensive and physical contribution. He won 104 ground duels, underlining his desire to make a strong impression during his time in Spain.

It is difficult to argue that Rashford did not give everything he could to convince Barcelona to make his loan move permanent.

Although he may have been disappointed that the club chose not to sign him, he can still look back on his campaign with considerable pride, both personally and as part of a successful Barcelona side.

The question now is whether Carrick and the Manchester United board believe he deserves another opportunity at the club.

United face a major decision over Rashford

Since the managerial change midway through last season, the atmosphere around Manchester United has improved, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko beginning to develop an exciting attacking partnership.

Breaking into that front three would be a major challenge for Rashford, but it is not beyond him.

If he can rediscover the consistency and confidence that made him one of United’s most dangerous attackers, his return could give Carrick exactly the kind of problem every manager wants — genuine competition for places.

Whether Rashford starts the new season at Manchester United or continues his career elsewhere, there is no doubt that he has already changed the direction of his career.

Not long ago, his future at Old Trafford looked virtually impossible. Now, a return to the club where he made his name is once again a possibility.