Man Utd could have to let Marcus Rashford go for nothing – and even pay him £30m

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With uncertainty swirling around Marcus Rashford 's future at Old Trafford, Manchester United could find themselves forced to release the forward . That's following a shake-up to football regulations that might have landed Ruben Amorim in serious trouble.

Rashford, 28, wrapped up a hugely successful season-long loan at Barcelona , where he clinched La Liga glory while chipping in with 14 goals and 14 assists. Despite this, Los Cules have made clear they will not be signing the forward on a permanent basis, having recruited England colleague Anthony Gordon in a £70million deal instead .

That leaves Rashford in a somewhat awkward position as he gears up to return to United once the World Cup concludes. However, Michael Carrick won't be able to replicate one particular move made by Amorim if his intention is to shift Rashford on.

It was roughly 12 months ago that Rashford was identified as part of Amorim's so-called 'bomb squad' at Old Trafford. The label was applied to a group of players the former United boss was keen to offload, forcing them to train apart from the rest of the first-team squad.

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That approach proved effective from a practical standpoint, with fellow bomb squad members Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony all subsequently departing. Nevertheless, isolating players in such a fashion could prove considerably more costly in the future.

FIFA has recently unveiled a memorandum of understanding alongside players' union Fifpro. The amendment enables any player banished from the first-team squad to lodge a breach-of-contract complaint and insist they be freed as a consequence.

A winning complaint would also compel the club concerned to settle the balance of that player's contract. In Rashford's instance, that would amount to roughly £30m considering he has two years left on his £300,000-a-week arrangement at Old Trafford.

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It goes without saying that's not the sort of figure United can manage to surrender lightly this summer. And it only serves to motivate Carrick further to attempt bringing Rashford back into the squad if a move elsewhere cannot be secured.

The FIFA decree is intended to safeguard players from being isolated from their team-mates when a manager is dissatisfied. Compelling players to train separately might prove effective in prompting their exit but was deemed to be abusive by nature.

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Premier League icon Alan Shearer recently shared his view that Carrick ought to do everything possible to shift the player on this summer. The Newcastle legend reckons "too much may have gone on" behind closed doors for matters to be repaired at United.

Should Rashford find himself surplus to requirements at United, he will nonetheless remain part of the squad. Even if that is far from ideal for either the player or his manager ahead of what could prove to be an uncomfortable reunion once the World Cup is over.