Football General Manager
"Marcus Rashford is on smoke," was how Rio Ferdinand reacted the last time the forward played at Camp Nou. "He is on a new level, a level he hasn’t been at until now. A fit, focused, direct, confident, deadly and potent Rashford is not to be messed with."
The often gloomy Paul Scholes could not help but get carried away either after Manchester United’s 2-2 draw at Barcelona in the first leg of a Europa League knockout play-off in February 2023. "He is virtually unplayable at the moment," was the midfield great’s assessment. "No-one can handle him. Wherever he is playing, left, right or down the middle, he just seems unplayable."
Rashford had inspired United from a goal down to take the lead in what was a thrilling match, scoring an equaliser from a very tight angle then provoking an own goal from Jules Kounde with a mazy run across the pitch before Raphinha levelled. It was one of Rashford’s finest performances in a United shirt and on one of the biggest stages but nor was it a surprise. This was Rashford at the very peak of his powers, in the midst of a sensational run of 18 goals in 19 matches, in a season in which he would go on to score 30 goals in all competitions and notched 12 assists.
Sadly for United fans, things have never quite been the same for their homegrown superstar, who has gone from being a fan favourite to persona non-grata. Less than two years after his tour-de-force at Camp Nou. Rashford was forced out of United and now he is only allowed to visit the club’s training ground in the evening driving through the back door when the rest of the squad and head coach Ruben Amorim, who cast him aside from the squad in December have left.
It seems strange, then, that despite a staggering fall from grace, Rashford sees Barcelona as his next destination. But what exactly would it take for the 27-year-old to make his dream move a reality?
“Marcus Rashford is on smoke,” was how Rio Ferdinand reacted the last time the forward played at Camp Nou. “He is on a new level, a level he hasn’t been at until now. A fit, focused, direct, confident, deadly and potent Rashford is not to be messed with.”
The often gloomy Paul Scholes could not help but get carried away either after Manchester United‘s 2-2 draw at Barcelona in the first leg of a Europa League knockout play-off in February 2023. “He is virtually unplayable at the moment,” was the midfield great’s assessment. “No-one can handle him. Wherever he is playing, left, right or down the middle, he just seems unplayable.”
Rashford had inspired United from a goal down to take the lead in what was a thrilling match, scoring an equaliser from a very tight angle then provoking an own goal from Jules Kounde with a mazy run across the pitch before Raphinha levelled. It was one of Rashford’s finest performances in a United shirt and on one of the biggest stages but nor was it a surprise. This was Rashford at the very peak of his powers, in the midst of a sensational run of 18 goals in 19 matches, in a season in which he would go on to score 30 goals in all competitions and notched 12 assists.
Sadly for United fans, things have never quite been the same for their homegrown superstar, who has gone from being a fan favourite to persona non-grata. Less than two years after his tour-de-force at Camp Nou. Rashford was forced out of United and now he is only allowed to visit the club’s training ground in the evening, driving through the back door when the rest of the squad and head coach Ruben Amorim, who cast him aside from the squad in December, have left.
It seems strange, then, that despite a staggering fall from grace, Rashford sees Barcelona as his next destination. But what exactly would it take for the 27-year-old to make his dream move a reality?
Rashford and his people have been pushing for a move to Barcelona as soon as the season finished, when his brother Dwaine Maynard flew out to Catalonia to meet the club’s sporting director Deco.
Rashford did his bit too, arranging an interview with Barcelona-supporting Youtubers xBuyers in which he declared his love for Lamine Yamal and his desire to play with him.
The speculation, however, seemed to be very much led by Rashford rather than Barca and it felt like a fantasy rather than reality.
Barca looked to be on the verge of signing Nico Williams for €58 million (£50m/$67m), a deal which would have eaten into the club’s already fragile budget, as well as providing Rashford with another speedy forward to compete against in his bid to get into Hansi Flick’s starting XI.
However, Williams’ decision to shun Barca and sign a 10-year contract with Athletic Club has put Rashford back on the Catalan club’s agenda. Ever so slightly.
Never one to have their confidence knocked by rejection, Barca have turned their attention to another target, Liverpool‘s Luis Diaz. And they seemed to have learned nothing from their doomed approach for Williams, which aggravated LaLiga as well as Athletic. That’s because Barca have breached the organisation’s financial fair play rules and are currently unable to register new signing Joan Garcia and any future signings until they raise more revenue.
Diaz, however, is even more expensive than Williams. And Barca are not the only ones interested in him. Bayern Munich have just tabled a second bid for the Colombian worth €67.5m (£58m/$78m), which Liverpool have rejected. And Diaz, like anyone with any knowledge of football, knows Barca will not find it easy to afford him and register him due to their crippling financial crisis. It is why he is reportedly seeking potential compensation from Barca in the event he could not be registered.
Barca’s refusal to insert a compensatory clause into Williams’ deal is believed to be the ultimate reason why he chose to remain with Athletic, who were also able to offer him a higher salary due to the Basque Country’s favourable tax regime.
Barca’s struggles to sign Williams and Diaz offer a lot of hope to Rashford, making a deal more likely than it was a couple of weeks ago, even if it is still far from simple.
Although Barca wanted both Williams and Diaz on long-term deals, all the noises coming out of Camp Nou suggest they are only willing to entertain a loan move for Rashford.
“I know the interest of Barca in Rashford is real, even though they have said he’s not the priority,” Barcelona-based journalist Toni Juanmarti of the Siempre Positivo podcast tells BALLGM.
“For Barca, he has the player profile that Hansi Flick likes because he can play as a No. 9 or as a winger. He is direct and he is quick on the counterattack.
“It’s true that Barca don’t want to buy him permanently and they don’t want an obligatory purchase clause. If they are going to invest in a player, they would rather sign someone younger or someone who has proven themselves more.”
Barca’s stance is at odds with United’s preference, which is of a permanent sale in the region of £40m ($54m). There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, United want to end the distraction caused by Rashford’s rift with Ruben Amorim. Their desperation for him to leave can be seen in the fact that they have given Matheus Cunha the No. 10 shirt previously belonging to Rashford.
Secondly, the Red Devils need a sizable transfer fee as they have financial troubles of their own and cannot further bolster Amorim’s squad without sales.
But more than six weeks since the transfer window opened, there have been no bids to buy Rashford, which is hardly surprising as Rashford’s estimated salary of £325,000 ($435,000) per week is out of the reach of most clubs bar Europe’s elite teams and the big sides from the Saudi Pro League. Furthermore, Rashford has not played like an elite player since the heady heights of February 2023.
As a result, United might end up having little choice but to accept a loan move, as it would at least clear an estimated £17m ($23m) off their wage bill. But even without having to pay a transfer fee, Barca would not automatically be able to register Rashford due to their standoff with La Liga.
Clearly, though, it would be easier for them to plug the financial deficit than if they had to pay a big transfer fee on top of his wages.
Rashford’s current salary at United would make him Barca’s second-highest earner but there have been reports that he would lower his wage demands to get the move he craves. So, while Barca’s financial troubles would appear to be an obstacle to Rashford making the move, they actually make it more likely.
“There’s a consensus that Rashford is the cheapest option in terms of the ratio of quality and price, especially if they can get a loan deal without a compulsory purchase clause,” Juanmarti says.
The lack of offers for Rashford and the player’s desire to move to Barca above all other potential destinations, meanwhile, plays into Barca’s hands.
While they were competing with Athletic’s financial might for Williams and have to contend with the financial strength of Bayern and Liverpool in their pursuit of Diaz, they are the only club in Europe’s top five leagues that have demonstrated a willingness to sign him.
“The player is crazy to go to Barca,” adds Juanmarti. “There has been contact. He is happy to wait and Barca have told him they have to wait. So, let’s see what happens.
“Barca have to resolve the FFP situation. Even if it’s a loan deal, they can’t register him. If Barca do not resolve their problems, then Rashford is not going to wait until mid-August.
“So, it’s not easy. If you ask me whether Barca will sign Rashford even on loan, I’d say it’s difficult. But if you ask me whether Luis Diaz or Rashford is more likely to happen, I think Rashford’s is more feasible.”
Rashford’s push to move to Barca has irked several figures, among them United’s treble-winning striker Teddy Sheringham.
“I hope Rashford doesn’t get the move that he’s hankering for. From my perspective, if you go from Manchester United to Barcelona, that’s a step up that he hasn’t deserved,” he told SkyBet.
“If you assess where Marcus Rashford is at as a professional footballer, you strive as a youngster to get to the very top and play for clubs like Manchester United, and when you’re there, you appreciate it. You don’t throw it away and say you want to leave. I find the whole episode very soul-destroying.”
Rashford’s fall from the night he terrorised the Camp Nou is soul-destroying in many ways and United have not acted like angels either, from Amorim’s disparaging remarks about the forward to the club giving his number to Cunha.
A move to Barca would be a massive victory for the forward, though, a massive step up when his career appears to be on a downward curve. And although it seemed like a fantasy just weeks ago, it is edging closer to reality.
