“I’d be surprised…”: Old Trafford villain shut downs wild Marcus Rashford rumour

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has weighed in on rumours that Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford could be on his way to North London. In limbo Rashford’s situation has never been more opaque, with precious few clues as to where his immediate footballing future lies. He spent the 2025/26 season out on loan at Barcelona and did well, contributing 14 goals and as many assists across all competitions as the Blaugrana retained their La Liga crown. However, Barcelona opted against exercising the buy-option to make his stay permanent. Barcelona were keen on paying around half of the £26m that was agreed with United last summer or even another season-long loan deal. United made it clear that there was no room for fresh discussions. Barcelona’s signing of Anthony Gordon and the imminent arrival of Karim Adeyemi make a return to Camp Nou highly unlikely. As it stands, Rashford is set to be reintegrated into the United squad when he reports back for pre-season training. Michael Carrick is said to be open to working with the player. Ideally, both Rashford and United favour a separation, though the possibility of remaining together has not been completely dismissed. There has been talk that Rashford could move to Arsenal, who are believed to be keen on attacking reinforcements after winning the title. Rio Ferdinand added fuel to the fire by encouraging the Gunners to make a move for the player. However, Keown has shut down the likelihood of Rashford joining Mikel Arteta’s side. Keown’s verdict Keown said on talkSPORT, “I don’t see that, I’d be surprised if that happened.” “By the way, I thought actually that Rashford did well for Aston Villa. They didn’t have the money to buy these players so they had to pay them big wages. That’s a problem for Villa having to balance the books.” Keown, who infamously clashed with Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford in 2023, added, “I just think maybe he [Rashford] went off the rails, lots of talk behind the scenes about what may have been issues.” “I think he’s back on track now.” “It’s an interesting one when he goes back into Manchester United with Michael Carrick. Does he welcome him back in? This talk of being in the city again. Is it a problem, is it a distraction? But I think he’s back on keel and you want to see these players at their best.” Keown expressed hope that Rashford’s issues are now fully behind him. Featured image Michael Steele via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!