PSG allegedly offered Marcus Rashford an astonishing £400,000 per week last summer, but the Manchester United forward declined the offer.
Rashford is currently experiencing his best scoring season, proving himself to be a crucial player in Erik ten Hag’s overhaul of the club.
However, last year was not as successful, and PSG attempted to take advantage of Rashford’s dip in form and the fact that he was entering the final year of his contract with United.
Shortly before his one-year extension was activated, the French club made their move.
Last summer, Marcus Rashford was reportedly presented with a tempting offer from PSG, which made him contemplate his future extensively. The Ligue 1 champions offered him a deal exceeding £400,000 weekly to persuade him to join their ranks, a report from The Athletic claims.
According to the report, Manchester United was kept informed of any progress made during PSG’s negotiations with Marcus Rashford, which were deemed to be transparent and fair.
Despite PSG’s offer of more than £400,000 per week, Marcus Rashford chose to remain at his childhood club.
It seems like a wise decision in retrospect, as Rashford has been performing exceptionally well for both his team and country.
Although his current contract with Manchester United is set to expire in just 18 months, he is currently negotiating a new long-term deal to stay at Old Trafford.
If Manchester United had not exercised their option to extend his contract by one year, Marcus Rashford would have been eligible to negotiate with foreign clubs for a free transfer.
However, the short-term extension means that he is now under contract with the club until the summer of 2024.
Despite Rashford’s decision to decline PSG’s lucrative contract offer, the French club’s chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, spoke highly of the striker during the World Cup, confirming that they had indeed engaged in discussions about a possible transfer.
‘We’re not hiding it, we spoke before. But the moment was not a good moment for both sides,’ Al-Khelaifi told Sky Sports before United triggered Rashford’s one-year extension.
‘Today, if he’s a free agent of course we can talk to him directly, but we are not going to talk to him now. Let him focus on the World Cup. Then, in January, hopefully, if we’re interested we will talk to him.’
Marcus Rashford has been in fine form, scoring 27 goals and providing nine assists in 44 appearances across all competitions.
As a result, he is reportedly seeking a pay raise from his current weekly wage of £200,000. Given his age and potential, it is anticipated that his next contract will be the most significant of his career, encompassing his prime years.
Manchester United are reportedly considering implementing a salary cap to prevent resentment among the players due to significant disparities in wages.
However, a recent report suggests that Marcus Rashford and his representatives are delaying contract negotiations to gauge the stance of potential new owners.
A Qatari group led by Sheikh Jassim and Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe, the richest man in Britain, are believed to be the frontrunners to acquire the club.
Both parties have vowed to invest heavily in the team, and with Rashford currently in exceptional form, he could potentially secure a substantially higher salary than his current £200,000 per week deal.