Paul Ince urges Manchester United to support Rashford's revival under Carrick

Manchester United might be trying to move Marcus Rashford on this summer, but one of their former midfield generals believes they are on the verge of making a serious mistake.

Paul Ince has called on the club to keep faith with the England international after the end of his loan spell at Barcelona, arguing that Michael Carrick is exactly the manager to drag Rashford back to his best at Old Trafford.

United have been actively exploring options to offload the winger, with Barcelona opting against a permanent deal and instead choosing to invest in Anthony Gordon. For Rashford, who had rebuilt his confidence and reputation in Spain, the decision landed like a punch to the gut.

“It kills Rashford,” Ince admitted, speaking to Oddschecker. The disappointment is obvious: one minute you look set for a long-term future at Camp Nou, the next you are back in limbo.

“Put your arm around Rashford”

Ince, though, sees opportunity where others see a problem. He is adamant that Rashford’s story at United does not have to end here, and that Carrick holds the key.

“I just think Michael Carrick can get the best out of him, I really, really do,” Ince said. “I think if you just put your arm around Rashford then you’re going to see a very, very good player. Fingers crossed that’s the case. But there’s one thing for sure, he is a very, very talented player and if he’s happy, he will perform for you.”

That is the crux of Ince’s argument: Rashford is not a busted flush, just a player in need of the right handling. Supportive man-management, not a fire sale, is what he believes United require.

Ince’s faith is rooted in what he saw from Rashford in Spain. Away from the scrutiny of Manchester, the forward looked liberated. He scored regularly, drifted across the frontline, and reminded everyone why he once carried the tag of United’s great homegrown hope.

“I feel for Rashford, I really do, because I think he’s a fantastic player,” Ince said. “He can play off the left and he can play off the right. I’m not sure if many people watched him last year playing for Barcelona but he was scoring goals, he was enjoying himself, and he looked a completely different player.

“Then when you think Barcelona are going to sign him they get Anthony Gordon and it kills Rashford. You saw in the World Cup the magic he can bring, he’s got that talent.”

Carrick’s project and a crossroads for Rashford

Carrick has already shown he can steady United. Last season he steered the club to a third-place finish in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League, restoring some sense of direction after turbulent years.

Ince is convinced that same calm authority can now be turned toward Rashford. The former midfielder believes Carrick’s approach – measured, clear, quietly demanding – is tailor-made for a player whose confidence has fluctuated with the chaos around him.

United’s hierarchy, though, face a hard decision. They are weighing up offers and scenarios in the transfer window, calculating fees and wages, trying to reshape a squad that has too often underperformed. Rashford sits right at the heart of that conversation: a high-value asset, a local hero, and a player whose ceiling still feels tantalising if someone can just unlock it again.

The calendar offers a natural deadline. United open their 2026-27 Premier League campaign on August 22 against newly-promoted Hull City. For now, Rashford’s name remains on the squad list.

Whether he is on the teamsheet that afternoon, under the Old Trafford lights, will say plenty about how much United still believe in the boy from their own backyard – and how much they trust Michael Carrick to bring him back.