FC Barcelona is in the thick of a presidential election cycle, a significant event that shapes the club’s direction. How player transfers or managerial changes get tied to such high-stakes moments is often a topic for speculation.
But recent chatter about Marcus Rashford possibly moving to Barcelona, or Michael Carrick returning to Manchester United, appears entirely disconnected from the ongoing electoral drama. Reports confirm no verified information supports these claims.
Barcelona’s Leadership Battle Takes Center Stage
The real story at Camp Nou involves a shifting power structure. Joan Laporta, the current president, resigned earlier today to run for re-election. This sets the stage for a vote on March 15, 2026. Rafael Yuste will serve as interim president until June 30, 2026, overseeing the club during this transition period. Goal.com details Laporta’s resignation and the reasons behind it.
Laporta isn’t shy about his past actions or future vision. He stated, “We had to act boldly and quickly” during his tenure. He also mentioned sporting director Deco and decisions around coaching, noting, “He [Hansi Flick] perfectly understands what the club is all about.” This suggests a clear strategy for his campaign. His board members also stepped down to back his candidacy.
Interestingly, one presidential candidate did reach out to Julián Álvarez’s camp, reportedly for campaign use. This is the only instance of a player being linked to the election, and it wasn’t Rashford. OneFootball reported this contact, highlighting the nature of election promises.
Rashford and Carrick: No Substance to the Whispers
For Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, there are simply no confirmed or reported transfer links to Barcelona. Zero. Barcelona kept their first-team squad intact during the winter transfer window, with no sales or additions. Marc-Andre ter Stegen was mentioned in squad retention efforts, but no other major player movement happened.
And Michael Carrick? No statements exist about his managerial interest in Rashford or any return to Old Trafford in a coaching or management capacity. The idea of a “Man Utd reunion” with Rashford in this context holds no weight. It’s just not happening, sources show.
Transfer reports for Rashford to Barcelona are nonexistent. His performance stats are not tied to any Barcelona election dynamics. There are no discussions of transfer fees, contract details, or probabilities in reputable sources. It seems the connection is a phantom.
The Spread of Unfounded Speculation
It’s easy for these kinds of rumors to take hold in the football world. Fans are always hungry for big transfer news, especially involving prominent players like Rashford or clubs like Barcelona. But in this case, the speculation seems to have outpaced any facts.
No official statements from Manchester United, Rashford, Carrick, or Barcelona have mentioned these topics. Not a single quote from any presidential candidate has targeted Rashford as a potential transfer. This silence speaks volumes.
Chelsea, for instance, has reportedly held talks with Julián Álvarez’s agents for a potential summer move, but that’s a different story entirely, unrelated to Barcelona or Rashford. OneFootball provided details on Chelsea’s interest in Álvarez.
Manchester United defender Leny Yoro chose Sergio Ramos over Rio Ferdinand as his favorite center-back in a recent interview, but that’s about the extent of recent United-related player news that isn’t connected to the Barcelona election buzz. The two narratives remain separate.
Ultimately, while Barcelona navigates its electoral process, the futures of Marcus Rashford and Michael Carrick remain firmly outside of that discussion. Any connections are purely speculative and lack verifiable evidence.
Ishaan Singh 
Baishali Karmakar 
Govind Singh