New club enters Marcus Rashford transfer race, Barcelona won’t like it one bit – report

Marcus Rashford left Manchester United on a temporary deal this summer, but his time at the Theatre of Dreams appears to be all but over. The Englishman joined Barcelona on a season-long loan before the start of the season, and the Catalans also have an option to sign him permanently for €30 million. The 28 year old has enjoyed an impressive resurgence with the LaLiga giants, scoring seven goals and registering 11 assists in 23 games across competitions this season. Marcus Rashford Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesGoals AssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played LaLiga16282–1,040′ UEFA Champions League643––417′ Copa del Rey11–––90′ Total237112–1,547′ Source: Transfermarkt. Despite his recent form, a return to Old Trafford looks unlikely, especially since the Red Devils have already revamped their attack this summer. Rashford’s Old Trafford troubles Rashford enjoyed an explosive 2022/23 campaign under former manager Erik ten Hag, registering 42 goal contributions in 56 games, which earned him a lucrative new deal in the summer of 2023. The Englishman was expected to take his game to a higher level the following season. Unfortunately, he endured a prolonged dip in form, which culminated in a falling out with Ruben Amorim at the end of last year. While Rashford’s fortunes have improved since his move to Camp Nou, a permanent stay at Barcelona is not guaranteed yet, as relayed by a recent report from The Peoples Person. The player’s future, as such, remains shrouded in doubt, but a recent update on his situation will certainly please the Old Trafford hierarchy. Atletico Madrid want Rashford According to Fichajes, Atletico Madrid are planning a move for Rashford at the end of this season. Los Rojiblancos are looking to add more quality to their attack and are impressed with the Englishman’s performances since his move to Spain. Rashford, meanwhile, has dropped down the pecking order at Camp Nou following Raphinha’s return to full fitness, and is not too keen on a bench role at the moment. Atletico Madrid are looking to take advantage of the situation and are plotting a permanent move next summer. Los Rojiblancos can offer him a chance of regular football, which could tempt the player to agree to a move. The report adds that Diego Simeone has personally requested the Englishman’s arrival, which will be music to United’s ears. Final Thoughts Rashford’s departure will free up considerable wages from United’s salary structure, which is why the club are keen to offload him permanently. Because the player is an academy graduate, his departure can be registered as pure profit, which could also help the club adhere to PSR regulations. While Barcelona’s financial situation has raised doubts about a permanent deal, interest from Atletico Madrid indicates that Rashford may not be short of options next summer. The Red Devils will now be hoping that the player can ignite a bidding war for his signature at the end of the season. Featured image Alex Caparros via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.