'I Can't See Why He'd Come Back' - Benni McCarthy on Rashford Staying Away from Man Utd

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy believes that Marcus Rashford and Manchester United would benefit if he completed a permanent switch to Barcelona.

McCarthy, who is famously South Africa’s all-time leading goalscorer, knows the Old Trafford environment well, having recently served as a striker’s coach for the Red Devils.

The gaffer has weighed in on the future of Rashford, who appears to have found a new lease on life while on loan in Spain.

The English forward has rediscovered his best form at the Camp Nou, prompting talks of a possible £26-million  permanent deal. 

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McCarthy argues that United should sanction the sale, which would, in turn, provide new manager Ruben Amorim with a significant cash injection to rebuild other areas of the squad.

Speaking to BestBettingSites.co.uk, the former FC Porto and Blackburn Rovers striker noted the visible change in Rashford’s demeanour. 

“I think Rashford is in a fantastic environment currently, and when you watch Barcelona, he’s in every squad.

“He seems very happy; he seems settled. At United, Amorim made it obvious that he’s not part of his squad,” McCarthy said .

The Bafana Bafana legend continued, stating that a return to Manchester seems unlikely and that a permanent transfer would be the logical conclusion for both the player and the club.

“I can’t see the reason why Marcus would want to come back. He will probably want to make a permanent move, and I think it would be beneficial for both parties.

“By selling Marcus, United can generate funds and subsequently pursue other players they wish to add; this arrangement could lead to satisfaction for both parties. Marcus is happy in Barcelona, enjoying and playing really well. He is playing the football that we know he is capable of, which allows him to move on.”

While the sale of Rashford would free up transfer funds, McCarthy expressed significant doubts over reports linking United with a move for England captain Harry Kane.

Despite Kane's reputation as a "goal machine," McCarthy is not convinced he is the right fit for Amorim’s specific tactical "philosophy."

“He’s a goal machine, but given Ruben Amorim’s style of play, I’m not sure if Harry Kane is what he needs,” McCarthy explained.

The former striker pointed to Kane's tendency to roam from the central striking position as a key point of conflict with Amorim's likely demands.

“I think Harry Kane is a little bit free; he’s all over the pitch. If you watch Bayern Munich, the assist that he made in the Dortmund game was from the right side of the midfield; that cross was one of the best assists I’ve seen.

“At United, you should be in the box if you’re the number nine. Indeed, he does score goals. I’d give anything to have Harry in that United team.

“But the manager will stick to his guns; he has his philosophy, and those are his principles. And he isn’t changing it for anyone.”

McCarthy elaborated on the tactical mismatch, concluding that the manager's system will take precedence over any individual player's reputation.

“I don’t see Harry Kane fitting into what he’s trying to do, what he wants to achieve, or how he wants to play football in that system,” he stated.

Furthermore, McCarthy warned that pursuing Kane next year would not represent good value for money, citing the striker's age and the high costs involved.

“The fact is that Harry Kane is in his thirties now. Therefore, how many productive years can we realistically expect from him? He might cost £56-million because of the release clause, but maybe more if he doesn’t activate it. Then you’re going to have him for two or three seasons.

“Two seasons, maybe at his best. So, unfortunately, I think that United should look elsewhere.”

Instead of the high-profile Bayern star, McCarthy suggested that Manchester United should instead prioritise a move for Brighton & Hove Albion's promising young midfielder, Carlos Baleba.