Marcus Rashford has revealed that he refused to consider joining another Premier League club after deciding to leave Manchester United, explaining that he wanted to continue his career outside England if a return to Old Trafford was not possible.

According to a report by FootballTransfers on Friday, 6 November 2026, the England international made the admission during a question-and-answer session before Manchester United's Champions League match against Roma, with his comments relayed by Spanish newspaper Sport.

Rashford spent time at Aston Villa before securing a loan move to Barcelona, having fallen out of favour at Manchester United.

The forward reportedly struggled with his situation at Old Trafford and was determined to avoid facing his boyhood club regularly after leaving.

"During my time at Aston Villa I realised one thing, I couldn't continue playing against United every season. If United is not an option, I told my agent to take me abroad, don't take me to another Premier League club," he said.

"After Barcelona I didn't want to go back to England if it wasn't to play for United."

However, Rashford's return to Manchester United has not produced the impact expected. The attacker has failed to register a goal or assist in his eight appearances since returning from Barcelona.

United also explored the possibility of selling him during the summer transfer window, largely because of his substantial wages. However, manager Michael Carrick has welcomed him back into the squad.

Rashford also spoke positively about his experience at Barcelona, particularly his opportunity to play alongside teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

The 28-year-old described the Spanish forward as the closest player he had seen to Lionel Messi's level of talent, praising his ability despite his young age.

He also suggested that Yamal had the potential to win multiple Ballon d'Or awards during his career.

Meanwhile, Rashford backed Harry Kane's victory in the 2026 Ballon d'Or race, arguing that the Bayern Munich striker deserved the individual honour because of his goalscoring and assist contributions.