Man United could repeat Jadon Sancho clause as Marcus Rashford agrees Barcelona move

Marcus Rashford looks set to join Barcelona on loan after an agreement was reportedly reached with Manchester United.

Rashford has been frozen out at United since falling out with new manager Ruben Amorim at the end of 2024, and he went on to spend the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa. He has since been stripped of his number ten shirt at Old Trafford having told United he wants to leave, and he is training separately to the first team.

The winger was not involved in United's opening pre-season friendly this weekend and is instead set to join Barcelona on loan for the season according to widespread reports. Teammate Jadon Sancho has also been told he is free to leave having been at Chelsea last season.

Marcus Rashford is set to leave Manchester United after falling out with Ruben Amorim. (Image: Getty)

Alejandro Garnacho and Antony are also able to find new clubs as Amorim looks to trim his bloated squad and turn around last season's disastrous form.

United and Barcelona are said to have agreed to the principle of a loan move for the 2025/26 season, with an option for Barca to buy Rashford for around £40m next summer. However, that won't be an obligation to buy the forward and there are now suggestions that United could be looking to include a specific clause to protect themselves should Barcelona opt against the purchase option.

When Sancho joined Chelsea last summer, there was an obligation to make the move permanent, however Chelsea insisted on a back-out clause which allowed them to pay £5m not to sign Sancho. They exercised that option and Sancho is now back at United looking for a new club.

Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford have been told they can leave United. (Image: Getty)

According to accounts like Fabrizio Romano on X, it is suggested that United are keen to include that penalty clause again to protect themselves if Barcelona don't want to sign Rashford. However it remains unclear if that means any buy option will be an obligation or just a glorified loan fee. While the penalty clause was one of the first examples of such a fee being paid in the Sancho loan, paying to back out of an option to buy doesn't make as much sense for a buying club who haven't yet agreed to any permanent deal.

Other reports say Barcelona are set to pay all of Rashford's supposed £315,000-per-week wages over the duration of the loan. Rashford still has three years left on his United contract.