Arsenal star tells Man Utd controversial €30m transfer decision was a no-brainer

Updated: 9 Sept 2026 17:21 BST | 4 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

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Arsenal star Ben White has lavished praise on Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford, which will be music to the ears of Red Devils fans after his encouraging start to the new season.

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The England forward will spend the campaign with his boyhood club after he failed to secure a summer transfer following his loan to Barcelona. The Catalans surprisingly opted against exercising their €30 million purchase option and instead signed Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi.

This left Rashford in limbo because he was initially not in Man Utd's plans. However, finding the right club for him proved impossible, as the 28-year-old was only willing to consider top European options, which ultimately failed to materialise.

Current ETV

Marcus Rashford

F, M (L)

Man Utd

Marcus Rashford

F, M (L)

Man Utd

ETV Range

€25.3M - €31M

Man Utd would have preferred to get his hefty wages off the books, but with his former teammate Michael Carrick now the permanent head coach, the winger has been offered an olive branch.

Rashford has started two of Man Utd's three games so far in this nascent season. He has yet to directly contribute to a goal, but he has shown glimpses of his exceptional talent and created numerous chances with his ability to carry the ball at speed.

White: Rashford my toughest opponent

While Rashford's future beyond this year remains uncertain, it is undeniable that he will have a big role to play for Man Utd as they attempt to be competitive in multiple competitions this term.

And according to Arsenal star Ben White, Rashford remains one of the best attackers in the Premier League. The right-back was asked about the toughest opponent he has faced during a quickfire Q&A on Men in Blazers, and chose the Man Utd attacker.

"I’d probably still go with Rashford, I think he’s the toughest I’ve played against," White said, which is somewhat surprising considering the calibre of player he has faced in recent years.

In 2024/25, White played against Vinicius Jr and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in back-to-back Champions League ties. He has also lined up against the likes of Morgan Rogers, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz while playing as a right-back or right-sided centre-back.

The decision to keep Rashford raised eyebrows, but the winger clearly still enjoys a fearsome reputation in Premier League circles. If he can add goals and assists to his early-season displays, Man Utd's gamble will pay off handsomely.