Roy Keene could remain red on his face following his previous remarks about Marcus Rashford’s outlook in Barcelona. England International was frozen by Reuben Amorim shortly after the Portuguese manager arrived at Old Trafford last November, spending the final months of its last campaign on loan with Aston Villa.
As Rashford continues to be overlooked by Amorim’s tactical blueprint after his return from the Midlands, the forward was desperate to design another departure from United, whether permanent or temporary. The 27-year-old got his wish when he sealed off his seasonal loan switch to Barcelona this summer. Nevertheless, former United skipper Keene had serious doubts about his outlook at Know Camp.
During discussions about the summer transfer window on the August soccer podcast’s stick, Gary Neville said:
“I mean, I hope he does well. I think that leaving is a poor reflection on the club, but I hope he can also get his career back on track in terms of how it has disappeared over the past few years.
However, Keene expressed doubt about Rashford’s adaptability and said, “Do you think he has enough football intelligence to go there and adapt to different leagues, different football, different lifestyles?
“He’s clearly a talented boy. We know his strengths and it runs backwards. He’s stopped that a bit.”
Neville countered, suggesting that Rashford could thrive in Barcelona.
“I know it’s a little different now, but they dominate a lot of games, so I think Marcus is good when he’s playing in the counterattack system because they’re above the pitch and you have a team behind the ball.
But Keene remained skeptical and intervened, “I think that’s why I think there’s a bit of a question mark as he continued to express doubts about Rashford’s compatibility with the team.”
Keene may be left somewhat embarrassing about what he says in the near future, given Rashford’s impressive start at his new club.
Reports say Barcelona will either try to negotiate a low fee as the season unfolds, or even secure a second consecutive loan spell on 27/2026. However, it is unclear whether United is open to further debate or another temporary departure from Old Trafford.
Since his move, Rashford has won three nets and provided five assists in all competitions. The club currently holds its second spot at the LA La Liga table as it heads for a two-week international break.
Rashford is keen to continue his good form when Barcelona resumes its campaign with Girona on Saturday (October 18th).
