'That's how it is' - Michael Carrick makes Marcus Rashford admission after Manchester United exit
The Man Utd head coach was a former teammate of the FC Barcelona star.
Michael Carrick accepts the future of Marcus Rashford is not in his hands ahead of a possible Manchester United exit at the end of the season.
The 28-year-old is currently on a season-long loan with Barcelona, who have the option to buy him permanently for roughly £26 million in the summer transfer window. Rashford was frozen out under former head coach Ruben Amorim when he admitted he wanted a 'new challenge' in December 2024 and went on to join Aston Villa on loan the following month.
Villa could not afford to make a permanent move for Rashford after they failed to qualify for the Champions League, and he instead fulfilled a childhood dream when he moved to Barcelona. The England international would love to make his move permanent this summer, though it could depend on several factors, including a presidential election at the Catalan club next month.
Carrick quizzed on Rashford exit
Michael Carrick had no say in the decision to let Marcus Rashford leave the club and would be powerless to prevent Barcelona from completing a permanent move at the end of the season.
Even if the Catalan club does not trigger their option to buy the United academy graduate, there is a belief he could look at alternative options, with United also eager to trim their wage bill in the summer.
It means Rashford might have already played his final game for the club, and former teammate Carrick admits it is a harsh reality of football that most players can't stay at one club for their entire career.
Asked if it was a shame Rashford ever felt the need to leave Old Trafford, Carrick told reporters: "It's difficult to say, because circumstances at certain times that I have not involved in, it's difficult for me to comment really. I think the fact he's come through the academy and had such a big impact here is a positive, and as a club, he's had some really big moments and good moments, and I've shared some with him in the past. So, football throws up certain things. Obviously certain players, you can't stay here forever, and things happen; that's how it is."
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