Self-motivation! Manchester United sees Rashford as a new signing from Barcelona, as Flick explains why the buy option was not exercised.

Rashford this week released a statement formally saying goodbye to Barcelona, showing that he has given up on the hope of a permanent move and come to terms with remaining at Manchester United. When asked why the club did not activate the €30 million clause to sign the 28-year-old Englishman, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick provided his reasoning, saying that Rashford is excellent but Anthony Gordon suits their needs more.

"It has been an honor to work with Marcus (Rashford), both as a player and as a person, I have great respect for him," Flick said. "Loans don't always turn into permanent transfers. I am grateful for everything he has done, and I will miss him. As a coach, sometimes you don't fully know what problems players face outside of football, and our situation wasn't easy either. However, I am truly glad he was part of the team. He is a fantastic player and an even better person. I believe the team will feel the impact of his departure, and I personally will miss him."

Flick added: "Football is always moving forward, and we have to accept these changes. As for Anthony (Gordon), from the very first conversation, I could feel how much he wanted to join Barcelona. He showed strong passion and determination from the start, and I am very happy that he is now part of the team."

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs revealed that, although Manchester United failed to sell Rashford, their transfer department found a perfect way to console themselves. They consider that they have acquired a 'strong reinforcement' from Barcelona, who contributed 14 goals and 14 assists last season!

Jacobs said: "Manchester United believe they are in a win-win position. They can view Rashford as another new signing, one who comes from Barcelona, has regained form, and has the opportunity to prove his worth under a new coach. On the other hand, if an ideal offer comes in, he could also leave."

Manchester United correspondent Andy Mitten believes that the likelihood of Rashford returning to United has increased significantly over the past few months. In February or March, the chance of him playing again for the Red Devils was only 5% to 10%. Now, however, it has risen to as high as 80% and is still increasing.

According to 'Football Insider', Manchester United are surprised that Rashford has to return. The board had originally planned to sell the 28-year-old permanently this summer, and they expected Barcelona to definitely activate the €30 million buy clause because the price was very cheap.

However, former Manchester United scout Mick Brown told 'Football Insider' that, setting aside Rashford's £325,000 weekly wage, head coach Carrick believes the 28-year-old winger is a perfect fit for his tactical system. Especially given the current lack of options on the left wing, he can improve the squad depth.

If Rashford can show his quality in pre-season, his return could also help Manchester United save on the cost of signing a new winger, as he already possesses outstanding talent. Brown said: "Manchester United did not expect Rashford to return this season; the club had hoped to sell him before pre-season. They were very surprised by Barcelona's decision to walk away from the deal, because for a player like Rashford, £26 million is an absolute bargain."

He added: "But for Carrick, the financial department's loss is the team's gain. Rashford needs to perform in pre-season to prove he deserves a place in the squad. Marcus obviously had some issues during his time at United, but that was under two managers ago. Now that Carrick is in charge, everything starts fresh. United have been looking for new wingers, and bringing Rashford back fits the bill, which will undoubtedly strengthen that position greatly. It looks like a good thing for everyone involved."