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News
- 19 minutes ago
Rashford to Barcelona could be the most inspired deal of the summer – here’s why
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 19 Jul 2025 17:18 BST
- 13 min read
Analysis
Marcus Rashford will leave Manchester United this summer. Where the England international will be playing his football at the beginning of September is not yet clear, but it looks increasingly likely to be Barcelona.
David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that the Catalan side are “advancing” on a deal for Rashford, who finds himself out of the picture under Ruben Amorim following a fallout in December 2024. Sky Sports go further, reporting that there is an agreement in principle for a deal.
Current ETV
Marcus Rashford
M, AM (L), F (C)
Man Utd
Marcus Rashford
M, AM (L), F (C)
Man Utd
ETV Range
€47M - €57.5M
This update comes in the wake of a claim that Jose Mourinho has personally requested Fenerbahce to make a loan move for the 27-year-old winger.
Barcelona will try a similar approach. Limited in their spending power by La Liga’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, this is a cost-effective way in which to boost Hansi Flick’s squad.
The Catalans are reeling after being knocked back by Nico Williams and with Liverpool’s Luis Diaz likely out their price range, Rashford’s availability on a temporary basis (at least to begin with) makes him an attractive addition.
But there’s more to this deal than mere convenience.
Why Barcelona want to sign Rashford
First and foremost, Rashford remains a highly rated performer. His displays on loan at Aston Villa won acclaim in the second half of last term won acclaim, although they did not justify Unai Emery’s side matching Man Utd’s demands to make the deal permanent.
He still boasts an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of more than €50 million, highlighting he has the capacity of an elite performer, even if this has been evident only in flashes in recent years. He has, after all, scored 12 or more goals just once in the last four campaigns across all competitions.
Rashford vs Premier League wingers: Overall performance (2024/25)
Despite the obvious promise shown at Villa, it is the Rashford who scored 30 times and added nine assists in 2022/23 that Barcelona really hope they can unlock.
Crucially, his capacity to cover two roles is an important aspect of his attractiveness. Head coach Hansi Flick wants a player who can operate not only as a left winger but also as cover to Robert Lewandowski, who has no obvious replacement in the No.9 role currently. Rashford can tick both boxes without even necessarily starting each game.
Moreover, the nature of the loan deal gives Barcelona the leeway to get this move wrong. If the England star does not settle, he can simply be sent back next summer. The chances are that this move will not be a disaster, anyway. Rashford is good enough to make it work at least as a support player to the first team.
Data analytics experts SciSports believes that Barca is a strong fit for the attacker. The Camp Nou side receive a Club Fit score of 71, suggesting he will get good playing time in a formation that suits him. The Blaugrana are not a perfect fit, according to the analytics, but they’re certainly not bad.
A deal that suits everyone
The outcome isn’t an ideal one for Man Utd, who would surely have preferred the guaranteed funds from a permanent sale. It is, however, a strong compromise. Finding a buyer for Rashford at a reasonable price, though, was testing due to his €375,000 (£325,000) wages.
The player, though, has shown a willingness to reduce his salary to force through a move to Barcelona – a winning ploy for the Blaugrana due to their finances and also the embarrassment of being spurned by Nico.
This is a low-risk move from Barcelona, who can strike gold if Rashford discovers his best form but simply send him back to Man Utd if he flops.
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