Man Utd Re-signs Rashford, Eyes Balde Amid £34m Barcelona Hurdle

Manchester United’s 28-year-old forward Marcus Rashford has officially returned to the club following a successful loan spell last season, according to the Mirror. Despite strong links to a permanent move, the Spanish club opted not to re-sign him—even for a relatively modest fee of £26 million—partly due to his weekly wage of £300,000.

Rashford rejoined United and featured in the team’s opening two Premier League fixtures against Hull City and Ipswich Town. Ahead of the Ipswich match at Old Trafford, Chief Executive Officer Omar Berrada announced the debuts of five new signings: André Santos, Youri Tielemans, Carl Darlow, Tyrean Thompson, and Carlos Baleba. He addressed fans directly: “We know you’ll give them all an extremely warm welcome and support them as they begin their journeys with Manchester United. We’re also delighted to welcome Marcus Rashford back to the squad. We believe all these players will help develop the squad as we compete on multiple fronts.”

Carroll praises Rashford’s return

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick commended Rashford after his appearance against Ipswich Town. “He definitely adds to the group for us,” Carrick said. “I’ve known him for a long time, but he wasn’t here when I returned to the club—and now he is. I think he’s seizing this opportunity, both for us and for himself.”

Carrick added: “He’s one of the club’s own. He’s living his dream playing here now, and he’s striving for success and victory. Regardless of what’s happened before, part of the nature of this club is that players sometimes return—or nearly leave but stay. It’s always about what you do next and your intentions. He’s been excellent since coming back, and I have to say, seeing him on the pitch with us today was fantastic.”

United turns to Balde amid Newcastle rejection

Reports indicate Manchester United remains interested in Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde, aged 22, as part of its effort to strengthen that position. Initially, 21-year-old Lewis Hall was Carrick’s primary target—but Newcastle United confirmed the young defender is not for sale, prompting United to shift focus to Balde.

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, discussions regarding Balde’s future have already taken place at Barcelona. The club values the player at £34 million—a figure cited as a key obstacle to a deal. Nevertheless, Barcelona is reportedly open to allowing Balde’s departure during the current summer transfer window.

Balde returned to Barcelona’s matchday squad for the clash against Athletic Bilbao after missing the season opener against Elche. However, head coach Hansi Flick has yet to select him in any match this season—creating an opening for a potential exit before the transfer market closes on Tuesday evening.