England’s participation in the World Cup came to an end on Saturday without Manchester United central midfielder Kobbie Mainoo playing a single minute.
He missed out on the crazy 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off with a back injury, but Red Devils forward Marcus Rashford did start on the left flank.
The winger provided an assist for Bukayo Saka’s first goal in the game and ended the tournament with one goal and one assist in three starts at the tournament.
As it stands, the 28-year-old forward is due to return to the club for pre-season with Michael Carrick after spending the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Barcelona.
Why Man United need to give Marcus Rashford another chance
Rashford was cast aside under Ruben Amorim and loaned out to Barcelona after he failed to make a positive impression on the Portuguese head coach, but his form either side of his time with the Milan boss suggests that he deserves another chance.
|
25/26 LaLiga |
Marcus Rashford |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
32 |
|
xG |
7.51 |
|
Goals |
8 |
|
Big chances created |
8 |
|
xA |
4.62 |
|
Assists |
7 |
The England international went to Barcelona and racked up 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, including 15 goal contributions in 32 appearances in LaLiga.
Rashford only scored four goals in 15 Premier League matches under Amorim, playing a 3-4-2-1 system that did not suit his style of play, yet he racked up 38 goals and 14 assists for United in the two seasons before the Portuguese manager’s appointment.
With Michael Carrick taking the Red Devils back to a more classic 4-2-3-1 formation, the Englishman should be given another chance to show what he can offer as a left-sided winger.
His form before Amorim for United and whilst on loan at Barcelona under Hansi Flick suggests that he has far more to offer than he did in the first half of the 2024/25 campaign, which is why he should be reintegrated this summer.
How Man Utd could replace Rashford in the transfer window
Carrick needs competition for places across the pitch, though, and the club are already looking at a player who would be even better than Rashford on the flank.
Reports from Spain over the weekend suggest that Manchester United are one of the clubs in the race to sign Paris Saint-German winger Bradley Barcola in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that his representatives have held talks with the Red Devils to offer them the chance to land the France international ahead of next season.
It adds that the French giants, who won the Champions League in May, are hoping to rake in a fee of more than £60m for the 23-year-old wing wizard.
|
2026 World Cup |
Barcola |
Rashford |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
8 |
6 |
|
xG |
1.98 |
1.24 |
|
Goals |
3 |
1 |
|
Big chances missed |
1 |
3 |
|
xA |
0.40 |
0.51 |
|
Assists |
1 |
1 |
|
Successful dribbles per game |
1.6 |
0.8 |
Barcola outperformed Rashford at the World Cup this summer, scoring three times as many goals as the Englishman, and scored against England on Saturday.
It is not just their performances at international level that suggest that the PSG star is a superior left winger, though, as his performances in Ligue 1 last term were exceptional.
Barcola scored 11 goals and created 11 ‘big chances’ for PSG in the French top-flight in the 2025/26 campaign, scoring three more goals and creating three more ‘big chances’ than Rashford produced in LaLiga.
The 23-year-old attacker, who was described by journalist Robin Bairner as “the next Mbappe”, also racked up 14 goals, 18 ‘big chances’ created, and ten assists in 34 appearances in Ligue 1 in the 2024/25 season.
Barcola produced 34 goals and 48 ‘big chances’ created in the last two seasons in all competitions for PSG, which shows that he can score and assist goals at an exceptional rate on the left flank.
As good as Rashford can be when he is at his best, the England international’s aforementioned statistics are not nearly as impressive as Barcola’s have been in the last two years.
Manchester United, therefore, should take up the opportunity to sign the star for more than £60m because he is a superior option to Rashford on the left wing and would be a fantastic addition to Carrick’s squad.
That does not mean that his arrival would be the end of the former Barcelona loanee, though, because Champions League football means that the Red Devils need plenty of competition and they could both compete for a spot on the left flank.
