Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has been tracking Marcus Rashford’s journey since he broke onto the scene as a young player at Manchester United. When the opportunity arose to acquire the England forward on loan this past summer, Flick conveyed a straightforward message to sporting director Deco: «I told him we must proceed. Marcus is a remarkable talent, just what we were looking for.»
The strategy was to gradually introduce Rashford, allowing him to adjust to his new surroundings and familiarize himself with the system the Barça coach requires. However, an array of injuries among the attacking players has catapulted him into a key position for the Spanish champions.
Having played 11 matches across all competitions, Rashford is one of only four players to have appeared in all encounters — the others being Pedri, Eric García, and Jules Koundé. With three goals and four assists, he leads Barça in goal contributions as the team approaches its most critical week of the season.
Barça hosts Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, needing a victory to recover from a recent defeat to Paris Saint-Germain; following that, Rashford will experience his first El Clásico as Barça travels to face Real Madrid next Sunday, sitting two points behind the current LaLiga leaders.
ESPN conducted interviews with those close to Barça’s first team and Rashford prior to these two pivotal matches to discuss how his transition to Catalonia seems, for the time being, to have rejuvenated his career.
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How Rashford arrived at Barcelona
Barcelona has documented scouting reports on Rashford for several years, but sources indicate that the groundwork for his loan move from United was initiated about a year ago. At that time, discussions commenced between the club and the player’s representative, his brother, Dwaine Maynard.
These talks were aimed at a potential January transfer, but as Barcelona was focused on securing Dani Olmo‘s registration, financial constraints prevented any additional signings. Subsequently, Rashford ended up joining Aston Villa on loan after being sidelined by the new United coach Ruben Amorim.
Barcelona’s interest remained alive, sources reveal, but by summer, other alternatives had emerged. Deco had intentions of signing Liverpool‘s Luis Díaz, who ultimately landed at Bayern Munich, whereas Athletic Club‘s Nico Williams was also a target before he renewed his contract in Bilbao.
Sources outline two primary reasons for Barça redirecting their focus back to Rashford. Firstly, despite his significant wages — even after accepting a 15% pay cut from his substantial United salary — this option was the most financially practical. Secondly, Flick strongly advocated for the club to pursue the transfer.
However, the process was not simple. It required considerable effort to finalize the signing. Spanish agents Arturo Canales and Fernando Solanas were brought in as intermediaries, while a law firm, interestingly, known for working with United’s rivals Manchester City, was also enlisted to help sort out the final terms of the various agreements.
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Nicol: Rashford needs to take more responsibility
Steve Nicol and Craig Burley discuss Marcus Rashford’s remarks about his time at Manchester United.
Rashford had been awaiting his chance. Sources indicate that club officials appreciated his unwavering determination to join Barça, referencing club icon Johan Cruyff’s famous statement: «If you have second thoughts about playing for Barcelona, you’re no longer of use to us.»
The same sources assert that Rashford did not fall into that category. They recognized that his transfer to Barça after a turbulent spell at United might seem undeserved by some, but maintained that pursuing alternative opportunities would have been less stressful and more lucrative for him.
They interpreted an interview he conducted with xBuyer, a YouTube channel popular in Spain yet less known in English-speaking markets, as a contemporary appeal expressing his interest in playing for Barça while also commending young star Lamine Yamal.
Ultimately, with Flick eager to finalize the deal early in preseason, and assistance from Canales and Solanas, United accepted a loan arrangement with a €30 million option for a permanent transfer, allowing Rashford to become the first English player since Gary Lineker to join the Barça men’s first team.
Rashford makes an impactful start
Rashford is relishing his initial months in Spain. He has settled in an urbanization in the mountains, just north of the coastal town of Castelldefels but technically part of Gavà. In merely 10 minutes, he can reach the beach, where he has been frequently seen playing pádel with friends and even engaging in fishing.
However, his true happiness lies 20 minutes up the C-32 motorway at Barça’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training complex. Sources mention that teammates were initially taken aback by his modesty and shyness given his stature in the sport, but he has rapidly integrated himself into the team dynamic.
He is working on his Spanish, but it isn’t as crucial to a quick adjustment as it might have been at Barça a decade earlier. The squad now includes many English speakers — including Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, and Andreas Christensen — and Flick and his mainly German coaching staff communicate in English.
Sources indicate that Rashford, who celebrates his 28th birthday next week and should be in the prime of his career, has been able to connect with veterans like Lewandowski and Wojciech Szczesny, while simultaneously bonding with the younger cohort led by Yamal, quickly picking up some local phrases to stay involved in the camaraderie.
He mentioned to the newspaper Diario Sport that one of the first terms he embraced was chuche, representing candy or sweets. «Soy tu papa, chuche,» — «I’m your daddy, sweetie» — is one of Yamal’s preferred playful jibes after outclassing teammates during training sessions with Spain and Barça.
«Rashford is a phenomenal player,» defender Ronald Araújo mentioned to ESPN. «He is content. We’ve talked before about that, the confidence, the happiness [players require] and he’s here in Barcelona feeling fulfilled.
«The team embraced him instantly when he arrived. You can observe that on the field. He possesses quality, skill, he’s swift, so explosive … he offers us so much. We’re glad to have him with us.»
Injuries have expedited the display of those qualities. With Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, Fermín López, and Olmo sidelined for portions of the campaign, Rashford, who was initially seen as a backup, has emerged as Barça’s sole consistent forward throughout their 11 matches this season.
Mainly operating on the left, which he claims is his preferred position, he has also played centrally, where some speculate his long-term prospects at the club could lie if he seeks to remain beyond this season — otherwise, he might find himself competing with Raphinha for a left-wing position rather than a 37-year-old Lewandowski, whose contract expires next summer.
Sources indicate that Rashford felt somewhat «lost» tactically initially, but that he learns quickly. He has absorbed Flick’s expectations from him, benefiting from the coach’s concise and direct instructions. Flick prefers not to overwhelm players with excessive information; he desires Rashford to be straightforward and attack defenders. The England international is averaging 5.97 take-ons per 90 minutes this season, but the Barça manager would like to observe an increase in that statistic if possible — it surpasses Raphinha’s 3.61, but remains far below Yamal’s impressive 13.22 average per 90 on the opposite wing.
Rashford’s most outstanding performance occurred in Newcastle, where he netted two remarkable goals in the 2-1 Champions League triumph, but if there is one area of concern, it is that he could contribute more goals — his only other tally came in this month’s 4-1 defeat to Sevilla.
There have been additional occasions where he has come close, thwarted by impressive saves or the woodwork, but sources report that Barça hopes to see an enhancement in this aspect. He hit the bar with a free kick in the previous weekend’s 2-1 victory against Girona; it was one of three free kicks he executed during the Catalan derby, and sources noted the significance of him being entrusted with set-piece duties so promptly by the coaching staff and how his teammates have accepted this role.
He has also taken more corners than any other Barça player this season — 37, outpacing Raphinha’s 13 in second — with Flick relying on his ability to create goalscoring opportunities. He has produced eight chances from set-piece situations so far.
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Marcus Rashford hits the frame
Marcus Rashford strikes the frame
Nonetheless, the focus of training has not been solely on Rashford’s ball skills. Flick described his double against Newcastle as the «initial step» and emphasized that the subsequent stage would involve his development off the ball.
«Our approach, how we wish to play, is based on high intensity, which I expect from him as well,» he stated.
Rashford has demonstrated progress in this area compared to last season. In matches with United and Villa in the Premier League, he was averaging 18.9 sprints per game, according to Stats Perform. Currently, in the Spanish top division, per LaLiga Football Intelligence, that average has risen to 34.9. He is also covering over 630 meters at speeds exceeding 21km/h per 90 minutes, a significant rise from the 122 meters he recorded in the Premier League last year.
However, these figures still lag behind Raphinha’s performance, whom Flick regards as the standard-bearer for Barça’s pressing methodology, essential for the team’s high defensive line to prevent being exploited. This season, the Brazilian averages 45.3 sprints per 90 and covers over 810 meters at speeds above 21km/h. Torres’ metrics also slightly eclipse Rashford’s, while Yamal’s figures are lower.
It is premature to read too much into this just yet. Barça are struggling to replicate the pressing vigor they exhibited during Flick’s inaugural season. Raphinha’s statistics were considerably higher — 59.4 sprints per game and covering 1.1km per 90 minutes at speeds exceeding 21km/h — while Torres and Yamal’s numbers have also significantly dropped.
Sources suggest that the data reveals a Barça side still striving to achieve its optimal performance. With personnel changing weekly due to injuries, it has been difficult to fully assess Rashford’s integration within this team. Nonetheless, the signs are encouraging. He appears dangerous with the ball, though there is room for increased goals, and has shown improvement without it, despite still having a considerable journey ahead.
«I believe it’s been positive, it’s been seamless,» Rashford told ESPN. «Definitely, in the future, we will improve. I’m eager for this. My primary focus is on the field, to harmonize with the team and enhance my individual performance.
«We need to display [intensity] going forward and continue to demonstrate to the coach that we are a squad eager to win and achieve success. I aim to win as much as possible, striving to lift trophies with this club and contribute to the legacy they already have.»
What’s next for Rashford? Is a long-term stay on the horizon?
Rashford’s future at Barça won’t be determined in the encounters against Olympiacos or even Madrid. The outcome will depend on his contributions throughout the season, particularly in the spring when Barça aims to contend for every significant trophy. Last season, they secured LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Supercopa, falling just short in the Champions League semifinals. They can only aim for better this time.
A decision on Rashford will subsequently follow. However, as is typical at Barça, it will not be straightforward. First, next year, a presidential election is on the horizon. Current president Joan Laporta is anticipated to run for reelection and is currently the frontrunner to retain his position. Nonetheless, he will encounter challenges, and candidates frequently campaign on pledges of significant signings; Laporta himself may also make declarations regarding potential new arrivals next summer.
If prospective presidents are committing to invest €100 million on Player X, where does that leave the €30 million required to secure Rashford considering Barça’s precarious connection with LaLiga’s financial fair play regulations?
Some insiders at the club, however, are already convinced that spending €30 million to acquire Rashford is a «no-brainer.» Ultimately, this will hinge on performance, finances, elections, and various other variables, including alternative opportunities that may arise and who the coach and sporting director will be — nothing is certain in the football realm. The only assured fact is that if Barça opts not to sign him, they won’t be liable to pay any fine to United, unlike what Chelsea did with Jadon Sancho.
«There is no penalty clause in the loan agreement if we decide against signing him,» Deco confirmed earlier this year. «We possess an option to make it permanent if we choose to. It’s premature to discuss decisions for next season; what matters is that we’re content with him.»
