Where to next for Marcus Rashford?

Marcus Rashford left the United States last week with a FIFA World Cup bronze medal in hand after helping England to their best showing at the tournament since winning it all back in 1966.

The 28-year-old was used sparingly by Thomas Tuchel this summer, but he still managed to score a World Cup goal — the third of his career — while largely coming off the bench for the Three Lions.

With international football stepping aside for the impending club season, Rashford now has a decision to make. He remains a Manchester United player for two more years, but he has spent the past 1.5 seasons on loan with Aston Villa and Barcelona, respectively, and he is looking for a permanent solution as the new campaign approaches.

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His most recent loan spell at Barcelona was a successful one, with Rashford scoring 14 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions for the La Liga giants, but it appears unlikely that he will return to Camp Nou following Barça's recent big-money move for his international teammate, Anthony Gordon.

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Here are the most realistic options for Rashford in the 2026-27 season:

Return to Manchester United

Rashford's reported £325,000 per week wages are a major stumbling block for any potential suitor, and it has been reported to have played a large part in Barcelona turning down their £26 million option to turn his loan spell into a permanent deal.

The Red Devils would be lucky to convince another club to take on the full brunt of his salary, but after Rashford just helped Barça win La Liga and Supercopa de España titles, he has proven that he can still contribute to a team with ambitions of winning trophies.

As such, Rashford could consider staying at Old Trafford this season, especially with Michael Carrick now at the helm. Rashford last played for Man United before Carrick took over as manager, and if the current Red Devils boss believes his former teammate fits into his plans then it makes the most sense for both the player and the club for him to stay.

Fenerbahçe

The Turkish side have already started to splash the cash on reinforcements this summer, with deals for Sidiki Cherif (€18m) and Nathan Aké (€7m) confirmed so far.

Fener are reportedly monitoring Rashford's situation, but those same reports have indicated that the player is not interested in a move to the Süper Lig.

Real Madrid

Rashford's season-long loan to Barcelona made an impression throughout the Spanish top flight, as he was a key contributor to the Catalans' title-winning campaign.

As such, another La Liga side could show interest in the England international, and rumours have been floating around that Rashford's former manager, Jose Mourinho, might be considering bringing the attacker to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid are one of the few clubs in the world that would not bat an eye at taking on Rashford's current wages, and it would be quite the story if he went straight from Barça to Madrid.

Tottenham

Spurs are in major rebuild mode under Roberto De Zerbi, and a proven Premier League attacker could provide a massive boost to the London side.

After a disastrous campaign in which they narrowly avoided relegation, Tottenham are also eager enough to get back to their status as one of the Premier League's elite clubs that they could be convinced to take on Rashford's wages.

However, the player reportedly prefers to play in the Champions League this season, which Spurs cannot offer regardless of their willingness to spend big money. 

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