Marcus Rashford and four other Manchester United players have reportedly all requested to leave the club.
Rashford, along with Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho are each said to have made clear their desire to move on to pastures new.
Following a public falling out with United manager Ruben Amorim, 27-year-old Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, who elected against taking up a £40million option to sign him permanently.
He was expected to report for duty at Carrington for the start of United’s pre-season, but the club have now reportedly delayed his return date and that of the four others looking to leave the club, giving them more time to explore potential transfers.
Having joined United’s academy at the age of seven, Rashford has spent two decades at the club, scoring 138 goals in 426 senior appearances.
Rashford has made no secret of his wish to play for Barcelona.
While his comments to that end have long since seemed speculative, that transfer seems more realistic after Barcelona’s ambitious move for Athletic Club winger Nico Williams collapsed this week, the 21-year-old signing a long-term extension until 2035.
With their top attacking target now off the table, Barca are being forced to reconsider their options, and Rashford has re-emerged as a potential candidate.
Antony was also cast aside by Amorim in January and went on to enjoy a successful loan spell with Real Betis.
The Brazil forward, who was recalled as part of Carlo Ancelotti’s first squad as coach of the Selecao, scored nine goals and provided five assists as Betis finished sixth in LaLiga and reached the final of the Conference League.
He has expressed a desire to return to Betis, though the club’s chief executive said in May that they would only attempt to sign him again on another loan deal.
Sancho spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Chelsea, scoring five goals and providing nine assists, with one of his goals coming in the Conference League final win over Betis.
However, Chelsea decided against taking the option to sign Sancho permanently, resulting in the Blues paying a £5million penalty fee to United. Sancho has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus.
Defender Malacia made only three Premier League appearances in 2024-25 for United, spending the second half of the season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, with whom he won the Eredivisie.
Garnacho is the only player of the quintet who spent the entire 2024-25 season at United.
However, the Argentine’s relations with Amorim seemingly soured following Garnacho’s furious reaction to being left on the bench for the Europa League final, which United lost 1-0 to Tottenham.
Garnacho is said to have been told he can find a new club, a move to Napoli in the January transfer window having failed to materialise.
