An incredible scenario awaits Rashford: Returning to MU after 18 months to face Ruben Amorim

Marcus Rashford is on the verge of wearing the Manchester United shirt for the first time in over 20 months, and ironically, the opponent on his return could be none other than Ruben Amorim's AC Milan — the very manager who sidelined the English striker from his plans at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford has traveled to Poland with his Manchester United teammates to prepare for the friendly match against AC Milan on August 15. Notably, the 28-year-old striker's name appeared in the list of attacking players that manager Michael Carrick brought to Wroclaw, alongside Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, Joshua Zirkzee, Matheus Cunha, and young talent JJ Gabriel.

This means Rashford is on the verge of officially stepping onto the pitch in the Red Devils' colors for the first time since December 2024. His last appearance for the Old Trafford side was a 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on December 12, 2024. As of the AC Milan encounter, Rashford has gone 611 days without playing a single minute for MU.

An unlikely reunion with Ruben Amorim

It was the Portuguese tactician who dropped Rashford from the Manchester United squad in late 2024. The English striker was left out of the squad for the Manchester derby in December of that year, before gradually losing his place at Old Trafford and subsequently moving on loan to Aston Villa and then Barcelona.

At one point, Rashford's career at Manchester United was considered to be at an end. His relationship with Amorim soured, while the Red Devils were also ready to find a way for the academy graduate to leave the club.

But less than two years later, everything has turned around in a hard-to-imagine script. Amorim no longer manages Manchester United and now sits on the AC Milan bench. Meanwhile, Rashford has returned to Carrington and has a chance to wear the red shirt once more.

Therefore, if Michael Carrick sends him onto the pitch against AC Milan, this will be more than just a friendly for Rashford. He will return to the MU jersey after a long absence and do so right in front of the manager who once pushed him out of the squad.

Carrick opens the door for Rashford

The biggest change to Rashford's future lies with Michael Carrick. Unlike the final period under Amorim, Rashford now trains normally with the first team. Carrick has also publicly praised the attitude of the English striker after he returned from his post-World Cup break.

Manchester United's manager confirmed that Rashford is still a club player and is treated like every other member of the squad. Carrick also stated that he is satisfied with what the 28-year-old striker has shown in training and believes Rashford can bring different qualities to MU's attack.

This is seen as a very significant sign regarding Rashford's future. Instead of returning to Old Trafford only to find a new destination, the possibility of the English player continuing to compete for a place in the Man United squad for the 2026/27 season is becoming increasingly clear.

611 days and a chance to rewrite the story at Old Trafford

The match against AC Milan could therefore become the starting point for a new chapter in Rashford's career at Manchester United. A positive performance, even in just a friendly, could help Rashford build more confidence before the new season begins. More importantly, it could mark the beginning of a resurgence that seemed impossible not long ago.

And fate seems to have chosen a special opponent for that return. After 611 days, Marcus Rashford may once again step onto the pitch in a Manchester United shirt. On the opposite sideline is Ruben Amorim — the very man who once closed the Old Trafford door in front of him.