England winger Marcus Rashford has made it clear he wants to remain at FC Barcelona beyond his season-long loan from Manchester United, saying he is relishing his time in Spain and views the move as the change his career needed. (Reuters)
Rashford, 27, joined Barcelona on loan in the summer with an option for the Spanish club to make the deal permanent for around €30 million (≈£26-28 million) at the end of the 2025-26 season. (ESPN.com)
In comments to ESPN, Rashford said:
“I’m enjoying this football club, and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game. For a player, it is an honour.” (Reuters)
When asked if he wanted to stay in Spain, he replied:
“For sure.” (Punch Newspaper)
Rashford’s career had been in flux: under contract with United until 2028, he spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa before the move to Barcelona. He has taken his goals tally to five in 12 appearances for Barcelona — including a double in the Champions League — signalling a career revival and new outlook. (Reuters)
As he prepares for his first El Clásico against Real Madrid this weekend, Rashford acknowledged the need for change:
“People forget this, but 23 years of my life was with Manchester United. So sometimes you just need a change. I think maybe this is the case with me, and I’m enjoying everything.” (Reuters)
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco confirmed the deal includes no penalty if the buy-option isn't exercised, but stressed they must evaluate Rashford’s fit before committing. (Barca Blaugranes)
Why it matters:
For Rashford, the move represents a fresh start after years of fluctuating form and changing managers at Manchester United.
For Barcelona, the signing reflects ambition to re-invest in attacking talent and repositioning the club for success under coach Hansi Flick.
The relatively low buy-option fee (compared to past valuations of Rashford) offers Barcelona a potentially shrewd deal if he continues to perform.
The situation highlights broader themes: player careers seeking change abroad, the attraction of La Liga for established stars, and United’s need to re-shape their squad. (95news)
