The Red Devils' part-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has made his feelings on Rashford clear after sanctioning his loan exit in January. In an interview with BBC Sport in March, the INEOS boss shared his delight with Rashford's upturn in form at Villa Park after a miserable start to life under Amorim.

Rashford endured a very public falling out with United manager Ruben Amorim towards the end of 2024. The club’s popular academy graduate was exiled from the first-team squad for two-and-a-half months before escaping on loan to Aston Villa at the end of the winter transfer window.

Aston Villa are under no obligation to sign Rashford on a permanent transfer but can decide to do so for around £40m. Unai Emery wants to keep the England international at the club but Rashford’s preference – given a return to boyhood team Man United looks off the table – is a stunning move to Barcelona.