TA: Rashford may return to Manchester United; Barcelona may not activate the buyout clause.

According to The Athletic, Manchester United players are in different situations after the World Cup: Menu did not play and was injured, while Rashford performed well but may return to the team after his loan spell ends.

In past summers, Manchester United players received special attention from club staff and fans upon returning from the England national team – Beckham in 1998, Phil Neville in 2000, and Rooney in 2006 were all examples. They were each seen as the "culprits" in England's elimination matches, facing jeers from opposing fans upon their return home, creating a sense of siege within Manchester United. Yet, all of these players went on to win the Premier League title the following May – Beckham even completed a treble.

The 2026 World Cup didn't present Manchester United with a similar situation, but when Menou dons the Red Devils jersey again, he will inevitably attract national attention. Menou was the only non-goalkeeper for England in the USA-Mexico World Cup who didn't get a single minute of playing time. This seems rather odd considering Tuchel's post-match assessment that the team's loss to Argentina was mainly due to their failure to control possession.

“I think ball control is crucial,” Tuchel said. “It may not be in our DNA, unlike the DNA of Spain or Argentina-Brazil, where we can hold the ball and control the game.”

Sitting on the bench, Menu might give reason to doubt whether Tuchel has actually watched his performances in the second half of last season. His core ability is ball control in tight spaces; he calls for the ball from his teammates and believes he can find a solution. His performances in the 2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City and the European Championship final against Spain—both times challenging Rodri in midfield—demonstrate this ability.

He could have been useful when England adopted a tight defensive strategy and long balls against Argentina – a style of play that doesn't require high-speed coverage and extensive running, which isn't his forte. The same was true against Mexico, when England had a player sent off.

As the game day progressed, Mayu appeared dejected as he walked through the mixed zone, often being among the first to board the team bus. He had a chance to play in the third-place match against France, but suffered a back injury. "Kobe got injured in the last practice," Tuchel said. "He had severe back pain."

This injury is not expected to affect Manchester United, as such issues usually only require missing one game. However, the three weeks he will now have will be helpful for mentally readjusting after missing the excitement of playing for his country at the World Cup. Menu has shown patience during his long stints on the bench under Amorim, and if he returns with the same competitive spirit as he did in January, Manchester United will benefit once again.

Menu is expected to join the team during Manchester United's Dublin training camp on August 10, and a friendly match against Leeds United will take place at Crook Park on August 12.

Rashford is also expected to travel to Dublin. His World Cup experience was even more impressive – he scored against Croatia and provided a brilliant 45-minute assist for Saka against France. He was substituted at halftime in his farewell match by Watkins (England were leading 4-0), a move widely considered unrelated to injury. France's high press and loose defense gave England opportunities, but Rashford proved that, as he did last season at Barcelona, he can capitalize on those chances when he's in form.

He played 223 minutes in six matches throughout the tournament and will now have a three-week break. Barcelona decided not to activate the €30 million (£26 million) buy-out clause in his loan contract, meaning he will return to Manchester United unless a club makes a transfer offer during this period. His teammates generally believe Rashford will return.

When the loan agreement with Barcelona was initially reached, this outcome seemed highly unlikely; all parties expected his transfer to be permanent. However, with Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon and Rashford's £40 million release clause expiring last week, his departure necessitates a new round of negotiations. In this context, Manchester United are considering left winger options including Somerville, and the possibility of Rashford's return saving the club transfer expenses has increased.

Carrick played alongside Rashford and managed him under Mourinho and Solskjaer. He's not the type of manager to build a "clearance list"—like Amorin did with Rashford with the support of the current management. But the questions remain: After enjoying his time in La Liga, can he adjust his mindset to return to Manchester United? Will those fans who opposed him regain their support? How will Carrick use him? His status means that whatever happens, he will be a topic of discussion.