Marcus Rashford has been named in the England national football team squad for the 2026 World Cup, with the on-loan FC Barcelona forward paying special tribute to Hansi Flick after the announcement.
In his first reaction to the news, Rashford shared an emotional Instagram message thanking Flick for helping revive his career and “believing in me when things got tough.” The Manchester-born forward also expressed gratitude to Unai Emery following his loan spell at Aston Villa F.C. last season, while also thanking Thomas Tuchel for placing his faith in him with World Cup selection.
Rashford has enjoyed a good campaign in Spain, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists as he helped Barcelona secure the league title, the first major league trophy of his career. This will be his third World Cup after playing in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
While Marcus Rashford has secured his place in the squad, Thomas Tuchel has made several major calls in naming his 26-man roster for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. High-profile omissions include Phil Foden of Manchester City, Cole Palmer of Chelsea and Harry Maguire from Manchester United.
Another notable absentee is Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold, although his omission will come as little surprise to many supporters given recent speculation surrounding his international future.
A deeper message meaning
The Instagram post from Marcus Rashford may also hint at his desire to leave Manchester United permanently this summer, despite the club’s managerial change. Negotiations with Barcelona are believed to be complicated by the Catalan side’s ongoing financial issues, with discussions reportedly centred around how to structure the €30 million deal through instalments or a longer-term payment plan.
That uncertainty could open the door for Real Madrid to enter the race, especially following reports linking Rashford to a sensational reunion with José Mourinho. While such a move still appears unlikely given Rashford’s popularity among the Barça faithful, it remains a possible alternative should Barcelona fail to finalise a permanent agreement and the forward wishes to remain in Spain.
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