FC Barcelona is pleased with the progress of on-loan striker Marcus Rashford, but the club does not expect to discuss whether to sign the English forward permanently until next summer.
Although Rashford has three years left on his contract with Manchester United, his future at Old Trafford currently looks uncertain. He is now focused on performing at his best for Barcelona—a club he has long dreamed of playing for.
Barcelona is satisfied with Rashford’s performances and, reportedly, also very happy with his integration into the club and the city. He has won over the affection of Barcelona players, staff, and fans, despite head coach Hansi Flick punishing him for being two minutes late to a recent meeting.
On the pitch, he has also delivered impressive displays. The 27-year-old has contributed two goals and two assists in his last three matches.
It is still too early to discuss a permanent move—but contrary to reports earlier this week, there is no dispute between Barcelona and Manchester United over the transfer fee.
This is because the loan agreement includes a buyout clause worth 26.2 million pounds (30 million euros). However, considering his further performances both on and off the pitch, as well as the club’s long-term financial situation, Barcelona is not expected to consider activating this option until the end of the season.
Barcelona also needs to assess Robert Lewandowski’s long-term future. The player turned 37 last month, and his current contract expires at the end of this season.
Rashford’s ability to play as a center-forward may also influence whether Barcelona’s senior management extends Lewandowski’s contract or turns to sign a new center-forward instead.
Another key issue is Rashford’s salary. Currently, Barcelona covers his full salary, making him one of the highest-paid players in Spain.
In recent seasons, Barcelona has had to rely on “financial levers” to register new signings. Therefore, paying the buyout fee and continuing to meet Rashford’s salary demands will have to be incorporated into the club’s long-term financial planning and will be subject to La Liga’s salary cap constraints.
Rashford himself hopes to stay at Barcelona. Last week, he said he wanted to play “as many seasons as possible” for the club, adding that a permanent transfer would be “a wait-and-see situation.” He added, “I have to focus on my work and help the team as much as I can.”
This will depend on Rashford’s performances throughout the entire season. So far, he has scored twice against Newcastle United in the Champions League and provided one assist each in matches against Valencia and Getafe.
However, due to the ongoing renovation work at the Camp Nou, he has not yet been able to experience the full atmosphere of the home ground.
Flick’s punishment for his lateness—benching him—is a standard practice of the German coach and has been regarded as a minor incident within the club. Players like Raphinha have also been treated the same way for similar lateness in the past.
