Marcus Rashford sends emotional message to Barcelona fans ahead of expected return to Manchester United - after Spanish giants rejected chance to sign him for £26m

Marcus Rashford has sent a farewell message to Barcelona as the countdown continues towards his return to Manchester United.

Rashford spent last season on loan at the Nou Camp, contributing 14 goals and 14 assists as the Catalans won La Liga and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

However, Barca decided not to trigger an option to buy him from United for £26million before a deadline in mid-June, and signed Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon for £70m.

On Thursday, Rashford posted a picture on social media of his No.14 shirt and another of him in action for the club with the message: ‘I am extremely grateful to everyone at the club for making my time here a positive and unforgettable experience. I enjoyed every moment, and I will keep many special memories. I wish the club and all its fans every success in the coming season. Visca Barca!’

Rashford is now set to rejoin United where he has a contract until June 2028 worth around £315,000-a-week. The England international is having some time off after helping England reach the World Cup semi-finals, and it remains to be seen if he will be involved in United’s training camp in Ireland next month which includes a friendly against Leeds at Croke Park on August 12.

With United in need of a left-sided attacker, and Rashford contracted to his boyhood club for another two seasons, it makes sense for the 28-year-old to come back and play under head coach Michael Carrick.

Marcus Rashford has sent a farewell message following his season long loan at Barcelona

It is looking increasingly like Rashford will be at Man United when the transfer window closes

There is no chance of a repeat of last summer when the more confrontational Ruben Amorim placed him in a ‘bomb squad’ of five players who trained separately from the main group at Carrington before Rashford left for Barcelona.

After initially putting a price of £40m on their top-earner this summer in the hope of moving him off the wage bill, it has been difficult for United to find a club willing to pay more than the £26m stipulated in the Barca loan as well as Rashford’s salary.

The club also discovered the high cost of replacing him when one option, West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville, joined Al-Hilal for £60m.

There is still time for some twists and turns before the window closes on September 1, but it’s looking increasingly likely that Rashford will be at United when it does.