Five Manchester United Stars Excused From Preseason Over Transfer Moves

Manchester United has instructed five first-team players—Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia—to postpone their return to preseason training as all are seeking transfers away from the club this summer. The decision, aligned with manager Ruben Amorim's plan for a squad overhaul, allows these players extra time to finalize moves while the rest of the squad begins preparations for the 2025-26 season. New signing Matheus Cunha has been given Rashford's iconic number 10 shirt, signaling Rashford's diminishing role at the club and his pursuit of opportunities with top European clubs such as Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Despite being excused from training, the five players retain access to Carrington's medical and rehabilitation facilities and will be expected to return later in July if they cannot secure transfers. While Garnacho and Sancho face uncertain futures, with interest from clubs like Napoli, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Juventus, the club is focused on reshaping the squad with new additions like Cunha and Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo. This move reflects a significant shift under Amorim, as Manchester United seeks to refresh its roster ahead of an important preseason and upcoming campaigns.