Michael Owen is confident Marcus Rashford will do enough to earn himself a permanent Barcelona transfer next summer.
Perhaps he has already done enough, given he’s enjoyed a sensational start to life in Catalonia.
Rashford swapped Manchester United for the La Liga giants early on in the transfer window, becoming the first English player to join Barcelona’s first-team since Gary Lineker in 1986.
Marcus Rashford has found his most prolific form in Spain
The homegrown Red made the move via a season-long loan, which includes an option for Barcelona to make his deal permanent for just £26 million upon the culmination of his spell next June.
Now, it’s safe to say that Rashford has taken to his new venture like a duck to water. He has returned a stunning five goals and six assists in his first 12 appearances across all competitions, making him one of the most in-form forwards across Europe.
Six of those goal contributions came in the Champions League alone, where he has scored or assisted at least once in each of the side’s opening three fixtures in the first phase. More recently, he netted twice and set up a goal as the Blaugrana hammered Olympiacos 6-1 on Tuesday night.
Such form will likely have INEOS rueing the reduced transfer fee they included in his terms. Any money that Rashford’s sale generates will be straight profit for United, as he’s a graduate of Carrington academy.
Owen weighs in on Rashford’s future
Reacting to the 27-year-old’s situation, Owen told 247Bet (as cited by Manchester Evening News): “I think he has definitely got the ability to earn a permanent move there, and he’s almost been given a new lease of life now.
“Some would say he’s been very fortunate, because he’d been really off his game for a number of seasons. So this is a massive chance, and he’s got to grab it with both hands.
“But I think he’s very capable and, if his head is in the right place, then I think he will earn a permanent move.”
