Jose Mourinho wants to reunite with Manchester United star

Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United future has never felt more uncertain. Once considered the future face of the club, the 27-year-old has watched his role shrink under successive managers. A poor 2024–25 campaign and growing tension behind the scenes have raised serious questions about what comes next for a player who once seemed destined to wear the armband. Now, in a twist that few would have predicted a year ago, a surprising suitor has emerged—Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.

Mourinho’s bold bid to bring Rashford to Turkey

The news feels both surreal and symbolic. Rashford, once Mourinho’s prodigy at Old Trafford, is now being courted by the Portuguese manager again. But this time, the setting isn’t Manchester or Madrid—it’s Istanbul.

According to beIN Sports Turkey, Fenerbahce are preparing to meet with Manchester United this week to discuss a €40 million deal for Rashford. It’s a bold move from a club that now has one of the sport’s most polarizing and successful managers at the helm. Mourinho reportedly views Rashford as a player he can reignite. The emotional symmetry is impossible to ignore. Mourinho gave Rashford some of his most consistent starts in a red shirt, trusting the young attacker in major games when few others did. That kind of faith lingers, and it’s clear the bond remains.

Rashford’s future is as murky as ever

As romantic as this storyline might be, reality remains sobering. Rashford has no real interest in moving to Turkey. At this stage of his career, he still believes he belongs at a Champions League-caliber club. His dream destination is Barcelona, though they only see him as a secondary option if their top targets fall through.

Rashford’s massive wage demands are another barrier. He’s reportedly on over £300,000 per week, a figure that would make him one of the highest-paid players in Turkish football history. While Fenerbahce’s new ownership structure and Champions League ambitions give them some financial muscle, Rashford’s expectations may still be beyond their reach—even with Mourinho driving the push.

Manchester United, on the other hand, are keen to move him on. Ruben Amorim and the new INEOS leadership reportedly don’t view Rashford as central to their rebuild. He’s coming off a season with just 7 goals and 3 assists in 34 Premier League appearances, a steep drop from his 30-goal campaign the year before. His metrics on FBRef show a decline in shot quality, dribbles completed, and pressing intensity—all indicators that his form and motivation have dipped.

Mourinho’s belief vs Rashford’s ambition

What Mourinho offers is belief, structure, and a starring role. At Fenerbahce, Rashford wouldn’t have to compete with the likes of Garnacho or Rasmus Højlund. He would be the attacking face of a Mourinho-led Champions League project. Fenerbahce are currently in the qualifying rounds, meaning UCL football is still a possibility for this coming season.

But that’s still a very different reality from walking out at Camp Nou or playing under the lights at the Bernabéu. For Rashford, it comes down to whether he’s willing to take a leap toward relevance again—or cling to the shrinking hope that a bigger European giant will come calling.

Conclusion

Marcus Rashford to Fenerbahce feels like a deal that will never happen. But it does say something about football’s unpredictability—and Mourinho’s unique ability to resurrect fading stars. The former United boss still believes in the talent he once nurtured. The question now is whether Rashford sees a future in Istanbul, or if he continues to wait for an offer that might never come. Either way, his time at Manchester United appears to be nearing its end. What comes next could define the rest of his career.