Marcus Rashford’s first Manchester United appearance in 611 days arrived in a pre-season setting that carried plenty of subtext, even without the stakes of competitive football. The forward, back in action after a long and complicated spell away, was given 30 minutes in Saturday’s friendly against an AC Milan side managed by Ruben Amorim, the coach who had previously lost faith in him.

It was a reunion shaped by history. Rashford had last turned out for United in December 2024, when he came off in the second half of a Europa League win over Viktoria Plzeň. What followed was a prolonged absence from the club, with Amorim said to have viewed him as a poor trainer and pushed him down the pecking order. Even after Amorim departed in January, Rashford’s future looked elsewhere as he excelled on loan in Barcelona, where he finished with 14 goals and as many assists while the club won a second straight league title.

A permanent move did not materialise, despite the player’s preference and the disappointment of Barcelona manager Hansi Flick. That brought the door back open at United, where Michael Carrick recalled his former teammate.

Against Milan, Rashford showed signs of application out of possession. Like United’s other attackers, he worked in the press and was involved in one notable moment when he sprinted in to dispossess Mario Gila. His influence in possession was far more limited. Bryan Mbeumo linked up with him a couple of times, but those combinations were untidy, and Rashford also produced a misplaced in-swinging cross that did not find a teammate.

The broader issue remains the same. Rashford still carries the label of a luxury player, and his defensive industry in matches has been questioned. Last season in La Liga, he ranked second bottom among qualifying attacking players for pressures per 90 minutes, with an average of 22.5 against a division average of 42.1. Only Kylian Mbappé registered less activity.

This outing did not erase that conversation, but it did show a player willing to work without the ball as he seeks to reset his standing at United.

Michael Carrick’s latest comments on Marcus Rashford leave little doubt about where the player stands as Manchester United move through pre-season. The United boss said Rashford has been “great” since returning, and that assessment suggests the forward is well placed to play an important part next season.

Rashford trained during the first half of the week before the friendly against Leeds United at Dublin’s Croke Park on Wednesday. After only two sessions, his fitness was not at the level required for selection, so Carrick left him out of the squad. Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martínez were also omitted, with both having returned late because of their World Cup involvement.

The next opportunity for Rashford to feature should come against AC Milan in Poland on Saturday, when United have a somewhat awkward reunion with former manager Ruben Amorim. Carrick, though, made clear he sees value in having Rashford available again. Speaking to ITV after the 1-1 draw with Leeds, he said Rashford has “come back great.”

That stance matters because Rashford had previously been pushed out of contention by Amorim, with his work in training said to be the issue. Carrick offered a direct defence of the player’s attitude and presence in the group.

“He’s our player. He’s come back great, like any other player. I’ve known him a long time, he gives us something a bit different,” Carrick enthused.

“He’s been in great spirits since he’s been back. He’s been back [for] two or three days.”

The comments may also ease some of the scrutiny that returned after tabloid pictures showed Rashford drinking beer and champagne while on holiday before reporting back.

United have not truly replaced him. Last season, his usual left-wing role was shared by Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu. Both offered alternatives, but neither is a more natural fit than Rashford. United had been linked with a left winger this summer, but only if he left again. If he stays, it strengthens the squad and may allow attention to shift elsewhere, especially central midfield, left back and striker.

Ruben Amorim has admitted that his spell at Manchester United came with “a lot of mistakes”, saying the experience taught him plenty before his move to AC Milan.

The Portuguese coach was dismissed in January after a breakdown in relations with the club’s hierarchy, including director of football Jason Wilcox, and the club then paid another £15.9 million ($21.2 million) to remove him and his staff. His exit brought down a turbulent 14-month stay that never found stable ground.

Amorim’s United side struggled to impose itself, with a back-three structure that often left the team short of control and vulnerable to the unpredictability of Premier League football. The numbers from his time at Old Trafford underline why the project unravelled. He leaves with the club’s worst Premier League win ratio at 32%, the worst goals conceded per game ratio at 1.53, and the lowest clean sheet ratio at 15% in their history.

Across 63 matches, United won 25, drew 15 and lost 23, with a win percentage of 39.7 and a +8 goal difference. The decline in results and the lack of a clear identity were central to the decision to move on.

Now at AC Milan after replacing Massimiliano Allegri, Amorim says the past is behind him. Speaking during a press conference on Milan’s preseason tour down under, he said: “The first thing is that it doesn’t matter anymore,” Amorim told reporters during a press conference on Milan’s preseason tour down under. “That is the feeling. There’s a history, then something happens, the context changes, and you focus on the next challenge.”

AC Milan are backing him to restore them to the top of Serie A after back-to-back finishes of eighth and fifth, having parted ways with Allegri in May. Amorim was appointed on June 15 and now begins a new chapter with a very different set of expectations.