Marcus Rashford is one of five players set to leave Barcelona this summer, with a return to Manchester United looking increasingly likely. The Spanish club reportedly do not intend to make the loan move permanent. The forward is currently on loan from United, with Barcelona holding an option to sign him permanently for a fee of £26m in the summer.
Barcelona have tried to negotiate a reduction in his contract with United and are exploring the possibility of taking Rashford on loan next season. However, United are standing firm on their asking price. According to Marca, Rashford is among five players who will leave this summer after having “finished their cycle” at the club. He has played in 43 games this season, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists.
If Rashford were to return to United, whoever was in charge would have to make a major decision about his future. They either need to reintroduce him to the team and hope he regains the form that saw him first break into the first team, or they need to find a buyer to replace the forward.
The England international spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, making 17 appearances and scoring four goals and providing six assists.
He has forced his way back into manager Thomas Tuchel’s England plans over the past year and is hoping to play a prominent role at this summer’s North American World Cup. The buyout clause in Rashford’s Barcelona loan deal expires on June 15, four days after the start of the tournament.
As well as Rashford, fellow frontman Robert Lewandowski is also on the list. The Poland international’s contract at Camp Nou expires this summer and reports suggest his camp is in negotiations with Juventus.
The remaining three players, Frenkie de Jong, Andreas Christensen and Marc Massad, are expected to leave the club at the end of the season.
The departure is reported to be part of a strategy to create financial leeway by freeing up some of the club’s highest earners and easing their “financial burden”.
Barcelona have been unable to complete transfers in recent seasons as they are obliged to comply with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations. Reducing staff costs could give the club much more flexibility in the upcoming transfer market.
