Barcelona have the option to sign Marcus Rashford permanently for £26m in the summer transfer window, but his Manchester United career appears to be over
Barcelona are increasingly likely to sign Marcus Rashford on a permanent contract, with a decision regarding Hansi Flick’s future increasing that possibility. Rashford, 28, joined Barça on a one-season loan in July, completing his dream move to Barça.
The deal includes an option for Barcelona to sign the England international for just £26 million, despite having two-and-a-half years left on his contract with United. Rashford contributed 15 goals in his first 23 games for Flick’s side, helping the Reds open up a four-point lead over Real Madrid in La Liga.
His goal in Wednesday’s away game against third-division Guadalajara, which ended with a 2-0 win, was also an important contribution. As it stands, Barcelona are more likely to trigger the clause than not.
According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, there is a catch to this. Camp Nou bosses are keen to see how Rashford fares against Raphinha, who has returned to form in the second half of the season.
Since joining, Rashford has mainly played on the left side of Barcelona’s attack. Vice-captain Rafinha shone in this position last season, racking up an impressive 34 goals and 22 assists in 57 games, helping Barça win the domestic treble.
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However, Raphinha has been used as a number 10 at times by Flick this season, and Rashford will be hoping to secure one of those positions as veteran striker Robert Lewandowski’s contract expires in June. Furthermore, reports from Germany suggest that Barcelona want to extend Flick’s contract beyond 2027.
The former Bayern Munich manager is a big fan of Rashford, so signing a new deal would only increase the chances of the loanee staying permanently. It’s not just on the pitch that Flick praises Rashford.
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After leaving Rashford on the bench in a recent game, Flick recalled: “I try to talk to all the players who were not selected and the last time I checked he said: ‘Coach, you don’t have to tell me about your decision. The most important thing is the team. We have to get the three points. The rest is not that important.’
“It’s the perfect mentality. I’m really happy to have him. When he’s on the bench, it shows that we have a good, deep team. All I can say is that he’s a completely professional player. At first he had to adapt a little bit, but now he’s at the highest level.”
Barça will play their last game before the winter break against Villarreal on Sunday.
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