Barcelona may have initially resisted signing Marcus Rashford on loan, but eventually finding the courage to pull off the swoop has proved a transfer masterstroke.
Rashford is slowly silencing those who dared claim he was finished.
He has steadily found his feet with the Catalan giants.
In 2024–25, Barcelona boasted one of Europe’s most electrifying attacks. Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha were operating on another level, dismantling even the tightest defences.
Few expected Rashford to break into that front line. But the Manchester United star has done just that.
Spanish resurgence
Determined to rewrite his story and prove he has still got it, the Mancunian has stepped up his game.
He has put in the hard graft on the training ground and has clearly won over Hansi Flick and his coaching staff.
Of Barcelona’s last nine games in all competitions, Rashford has started eight, not starting one because of breaking team rules, arriving two minutes late to a meeting.
On the pitch, he has justified his selection. His technical brilliance has shone through.
With five goals and five assists in 12 appearances, he has emerged as Barca’s most productive player.
Reports suggest the club are thrilled, not just with his output, but with his attitude, which some feared might become an issue.
“Rashford not only contributes goals but also brings creativity, effort, and leadership to the attack,” sources close to the coaching staff told beIN.
Everything now points towards the Spanish champions triggering the €30 million (£26 million) option to make the move permanent.
So, what are Barcelona thinking?
According to Spanish outlet Sport:
“Barca is in no rush to decide Marcus Rashford’s future.
“The club believe it’s still too early to finalise a deal and prefer to observe how his season develops before making a move.
“The plan is to wait a few months to see if his performance continues at this high level and, if so, begin to draw up the lines for negotiations with United, which are not expected to be very complicated, as the €30 million purchase option was already negotiated and established last summer.”
Important months ahead
With that said, the hope is that Rashford sustains his resurgence.
He recently admitted, “I’m ready to bring out the best in me in the team.”
We can trust he will do just that. He will completely win Barca over and hand United a £26 million parting gift through his exploits in Catalonia.
His audition for a permanent Camp Nou switch continues this weekend.
Barcelona face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in their first El Clasico of the season, and what a stage that is for Rashy to announce himself in this illustrious fixture.
After his masterclass against Olympiacos, where he bagged a brace leading the line in Lewandowski’s absence, he could be the one to punish Madrid and fire Barca to a statement derby win.
Featured image Alex Caparros via Getty Images
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Daniel Onguko
Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.
