Marcus Rashford has performed well for Barcelona since joining on loan from Manchester United, but concerns over his salary could prevent the club from triggering his permanent option.
Barcelona’s decision to permanently transfer Marcus Rashford is reportedly not as easy as it looks, with opinions divided within the club on the matter. The Spanish giants have attached an option to Rashford’s loan deal to sign the English forward on a permanent deal for £26m this summer.
When the Manchester-born striker spent the second half of last season on loan under manager Unai Emery, Aston Villa had a similar option, albeit at a hefty £40 million. Despite Rashford’s impressive performance at Villa Park, Barcelona ultimately decided not to trigger the clause, leaving Barcelona facing a similar dilemma at the end of the season.
The 28-year-old seems to have found his footing in Spain’s second-largest city right away. In his first 18 games for the club, Rashford scored six goals and provided seven assists.
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Initially, it seemed likely that Barça would exercise their option to buy him. However, the La Liga champions have now identified concerns similar to those that led Manchester United to consider a move for Rashford.
Spanish newspaper Sport reports that there are concerns within the club about Rashford’s high salary, even though it appears to be an outrageous transfer fee for such an experienced player. The England international has had his salary cut by 25% and is now on around £240,000 a week, with Barça covering all of his wages during his loan spell.
The attacker is said to offer little in terms of high pressing, which is essential for Hansi Flick’s team. According to the report, Barcelona’s main concern is finding backup for Rafinha. United will be hoping for a quick resolution regarding Rashford’s future.
If he returns to United, he will likely be loaned out again or sold outright, as manager Ruben Amorim does not consider him part of his future strategy.
Last September, Flick praised Rashford. “You have to look back a little bit. I’ve been following Marcus since he was at Manchester United. He has the speed, the one-on-one skills and the finishing ability.
“What I’ve seen in the first few weeks has been very good and he has a lot more potential. It’s great to have him in the team. He’s an unbelievable player. What I’m seeing is very good.”
Flick previously told reporters: “I told Deco this summer: “Please sign a player like Marcus Rashford!” I’m very happy that he’s here. Rashford had an opportunity in the transfer window and we had to take it. I’m glad I did it.
“I spoke to him and said, ‘I need you in my team.'” This is a good step for Rashford. It will give him great confidence. ”
However, despite Flick’s enthusiasm, Barcelona do not have unlimited resources. In fact, the exact opposite has happened in recent years, with the club consistently struggling to stabilize its performance.
Rashford’s performances at Barcelona have seen him regain his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, and the 28-year-old looks to be on track for next summer’s World Cup. However, manager Tuchel has stressed the need for further improvement.
The England manager said: “The numbers are not up to his potential. He needs to push himself with goal involvement and he knows that from me. I think he still has to make a decision. He’s still young enough to make a decision because if he doesn’t he might be disappointed in what he could have been and what he could have been doing in 10 years.”
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