Marcus Rashford is in the final stages of his loan spell with Barcelona, but the La Liga giants are yet to decide whether to sign him on a permanent deal for £26 million.
Joan Laporta talks about Marcus Rashford’s future (Image: Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has suggested the club could extend Marcus Rashford’s loan rather than activate Manchester United’s £26m buyout option. Rashford, 28, was initially frozen out by then-United manager Ruben Amorim and joined Barça until the end of the season.
The England international scored 20 goals and provided an assist for the La Liga champions, but only five of those goals came in 2026. Just before the start of the year, Rashford lost his place in manager Hansi Flick’s first-choice XI to Rafinha following the Brazilian’s return from injury.
United are adamant they have no intention of lowering the price for Rashford, having agreed a fee of £26 million when he moved to Catalonia in July. According to reports, Barcelona have no intention of paying that amount at this time and have named Chelsea star Pedro Neto as Rashford’s replacement.
Laporta has now floated several more options, telling Spanish newspaper Gijantes: “There is a possibility of extending[Rashford’s]loan further. It depends on what Deco[Barcelona’s sporting director]wants. There is also the option of paying Manchester United part of the buyout option and thinking about the rest later.”
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Barca’s president added that Rashford “has good goals and statistics, has good chemistry in the dressing room and is very involved with the Foundation.”
Mr Laporta’s own future is uncertain and could have an impact on Mr Rashford’s as the chief executive prepares to stand for re-election on Sunday. Fintech entrepreneur Victor Font is expected to be Laporta’s closest rival, as he was in 2021.
Rashford has already made his stance on staying at Barcelona clear. “What I want is to stay at Barça,” the United loanee told Catalan newspaper Sport in December.
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Marcus Rashford has just over two months left to convince Barcelona (Image: Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“That is the ultimate goal, but that is not the reason why I train hard and give everything. The aim is to win. Barça is a huge, great club built to win titles.”
Rashford’s next chance to impress could come against Sevilla on Sunday. The 28-year-old came on midway through the second half of Tuesday’s 1-1 first-leg draw with Newcastle in the Champions League round of 16 and is hoping to start in the La Liga game.
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