Paul Ince urges Manchester United to trust Rashford's potential under Carrick

Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United future hangs in the balance, but Paul Ince is adamant: this is not the moment to cut him loose. Not when Michael Carrick is in the dugout. Not when a reset at Old Trafford is finally within reach.

United are actively trying to move the winger on this summer after his loan spell at Barcelona came to an end. Barca, impressed but unconvinced enough to commit, turned away from a permanent deal and chose to sign Anthony Gordon instead. For Rashford, it was a brutal twist. For Ince, it was a mistake United must not repeat.

The former United midfielder sees opportunity where others see a clean break.

“I just think Michael Carrick can get the best out of him, I really, really do,” Ince told Oddschecker. Ince’s belief is simple and old‑school: good players need backing, not binning. “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, in essence, is the crux of the debate at Old Trafford. Is Rashford a problem to offload or an asset to rehabilitate?

Barcelona high, transfer low

Ince’s sympathy for the England international is genuine. Rashford went to Spain under pressure and came back with his reputation quietly repaired. He scored regularly, carried a threat across the frontline and, crucially, looked like he was enjoying his football again.

“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.”

The sequence is harsh. A strong loan spell. The sense that a permanent move might follow. Then the door slams shut as Gordon walks through it instead. For a player whose confidence has fluctuated in recent seasons, that kind of rejection cuts deep.

Carrick’s role in the crossroads

United, for their part, are weighing up the market. The club are open to a sale, conscious of the need to refresh the squad and trim the wage bill. Yet the presence of Carrick complicates the equation in the best possible way.

Carrick’s first full season in charge brought a third‑place finish and a return to the Champions League. He steadied a listing ship, restored some clarity to United’s play and showed he can manage big personalities without drama. Ince is convinced that same calm, assured touch can reignite Rashford at his boyhood club.

The message is clear: with the right man‑management, Rashford is not a fading asset but a live project. A forward still young enough to shape United’s attack, not just haunt it as a what‑if.

Support, trust, a manager who knows the club and the player – Ince believes those ingredients can transform the narrative. Rashford has already shown, in flashes for England at the World Cup and in spells for Barcelona, what happens when he feels liberated rather than scrutinised.

Hull, and a decision that can’t be dodged

Time, though, is not infinite. The new season is coming fast. United open their 2026‑27 Premier League campaign on 22 August against newly‑promoted Hull City. By then, the club must know exactly where Rashford stands.

Will he be lining up in red on that first weekend, carrying the weight of a second chance under Carrick? Or will United decide the gamble is too great and cash in on a player Ince still sees as “very, very talented” and far from finished?

One way or another, that Hull fixture will not just launch a season. It could mark the start of Rashford’s redemption at Old Trafford – or the moment United discover what they’ve lost.