The winds of change are blowing through Old Trafford this summer, and they’re sweeping up some of Manchester United’s biggest names.
With a new season looming, the club has made a bold move—telling five of their first-team stars to hold off on returning to pre-season training.
Rashford, Sancho, and Garnacho Told to Wait
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia have all been asked not to report for training this Monday at Carrington, while the rest of the squad begins pre-season prep.
Instead, these players—who are all actively exploring moves away from the club—will return later in the month.
Although they’re not required to join the team right now, they’re still welcome to use the club’s medical and rehab facilities if they choose to.
And if none of the potential transfers work out, the door remains open for them to rejoin the group.
Rashford’s No.10 Shirt Handed to New Signing
One of the biggest headlines out of this shake-up involves Marcus Rashford.
The 27-year-old forward, who had a rough spell on loan at Aston Villa last season following a fallout with manager Ruben Amorim, was initially expecting to be part of the pre-season.
However, it seems the club has different plans.
In a clear sign of transition, Rashford’s iconic No.10 shirt has now been allocated to new £62.5 million signing Matheus Cunha.
Despite that, United have stressed that Rashford’s legacy won’t be forgotten—he’s still considered one of the most successful products of the club’s academy.
Garnacho’s Fallout and Uncertain Future
Alejandro Garnacho, another rising talent, reportedly landed in hot water with Amorim after his emotional reaction to being benched for the Europa League final against Spurs.
Amorim even told him to “pray” for a new club this summer.
Napoli have already shown interest, and Chelsea and Spurs are also monitoring his situation closely.
What’s Next for Sancho, Antony, and Malacia?
Sancho is another player with an uncertain future.
He was supposed to return to training after Chelsea opted not to turn his loan spell into a permanent move, paying a £5 million penalty instead of the agreed £25 million fee.
Juventus are now sniffing around, though they can only afford to cover a fraction of his £275,000-per-week salary.
As for Antony, his loan spell at Real Betis went down well, and the Spanish club is keen to bring him back.
But to make it happen, they’ll need to agree a new deal with United, potentially involving a loan with an obligation to buy for around £30 million.
Meanwhile, Tyrell Malacia looks set to be another casualty of Amorim’s reshuffling.
After PSV Eindhoven passed on making his loan move permanent, he’s expected to be on the move again as he doesn’t appear to be in the manager’s plans.
Amorim Returns and Gets to Work Early
While the player situation remains fluid, United manager Ruben Amorim is wasting no time.
The Portuguese coach was back at Carrington on Friday, fresh from some well-earned downtime back home, and was all smiles as he greeted reporters and returned to duty.
Clad in light summer attire, Amorim arrived ahead of the players, keen to lay the groundwork for the season ahead.
His assistant, Carlos Fernandes, and the rest of his team followed soon after.
The full squad is expected to return in phases, with some players already back from their post-season holidays and others due later in the week.
But make no mistake—pre-season is in motion, and United’s summer rebuild is officially underway.
