The proposed switch from Manchester United to Barcelona has collapsed. Barcelona held an option to sign Marcus Rashford for a fixed fee but chose not to trigger it before the clause expired, and that window has now closed. With the deal dead, Manchester United want to sell the 28-year-old, yet as things stand he is set to return to their pre-season training after the World Cup. His contract runs only until June 2026, which leaves him edging towards free agency unless a fresh resolution emerges. The reporting here is strong and consistent. Ben Jacobs, a reliable voice, set out the latest position a day ago, while Sky Sports News — the highest-rated source on file — and BBC Sport tracked the expiring clause two days ago. ESPN FC corroborated the same deadline. Four credible outlets telling the same story means we can trust the picture: this is well-sourced, not a thin single link. The engine puts completion at just 2%, a genuine longshot. That figure reflects a simple reality: the mechanism that would have delivered Rashford to Barcelona has already lapsed, and Barcelona declined to use it. For the move to revive, both clubs would need to reopen talks on entirely new terms — and there is no sign of that. The probability is low because the door has effectively shut. Barcelona have a recent habit of paying in this bracket: Sevilla FC to Barcelona for £31m in 2018, and Grêmio to Barcelona for £26m in 2018, sit close to the fees floated here. The money was never the obstacle. Watch whether Barcelona reopen negotiations on a fresh deal, whether Manchester United secure a buyer elsewhere, or whether Rashford simply reports back for pre-season.