Unwanted At Man Utd But Wanted By Barca - Why Would They Sign Rashford?

Unwanted astatine Manchester United, yet wanted by Barcelona.

Marcus Rashford, an Old Trafford outcast since nan extremity of past year, is edging ever person to a dream move to nan Nou Camp aft a deal successful principle was reached.

It's not a transportation which comes wholly retired of nan blue, pinch Rashford reportedly agelong having his bosom group connected a move to nan Spanish giants and saying only past period he wanted to play alongside teenage superstar Lamine Yamal.

Barca, too, person not hidden their liking successful nan 27-year-old England forward. In May, sporting head Deco admitted they "like" Rashford and suggested he could "improve nan team".

But that is nan spot that presently has group talking - could he really?

BBC Sport tries to explicate really Rashford finds himself connected nan brink of joining Barcelona and why they really want to motion him.

Rashford's departure from Old Trafford has been a comparatively agelong clip coming.

Manager Ruben Amorim dropped him for nan Manchester derby connected 15 December past twelvemonth - and he has not played for United since.

Amorim later criticised Rashford for a perceived deficiency of effort, suggesting that he would alternatively springiness a spot connected nan chair to his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach than personification who "doesn't springiness nan maximum each day".

He joined Aston Villa connected indebtedness successful January, making 17 appearances and earning an England recall, but returned to Old Trafford past period pinch his longer-term early still uncertain.

However, that uncertainty has been much astir wherever he would spell alternatively than whether he would stay, pinch Rashford 1 of five players who told nan nine they wanted to leave - and who were subsequently told to train separately from nan remainder of nan squad.

"There is nary uncertainty a fully-motivated, focused and wished Marcus Rashford would locomotion into Ruben Amorim's team," said BBC Sport's main shot news newsman Simon Stone.

"But, successful reality, that Rashford has only been seen for 1 afloat play since 2021 and nan run that led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer getting sacked.

"There were signs of nan aged Rashford during his half play indebtedness astatine Villa - but location were besides games wherever he didn't execute truthful well.

"Offloading an unwanted subordinate to Barcelona is bizarre for a nine successful Manchester United's position. But that is wherever they are correct now. What they person to do is maximise nan opportunity.

"At Old Trafford, they cannot interest astir optics. They person to present a squad Amorim tin thrust up nan table."

If United, who vanished 15th successful nan Premier League past season, don't want Rashford - why are La Liga champions Barcelona aft him?

Barca haven't precisely struggled for goals complete nan past year, scoring 102 connected their measurement to winning nan league.

They besides netted 43 arsenic they reached nan Champions League semi-finals successful 2024-25, nan second-most successful a azygous campaign.

If anything, their shortcomings were astatine nan backmost alternatively than up front.

But that hasn't stopped them seeking attacking reinforcements.

"Strengthening nan left-hand broadside of nan guardant statement has been Barcelona's privilege each summertime and, for a agelong time, it appeared they'd beryllium successful successful snapping up their number 1 target, Nico Williams," said Spanish shot writer Andy West.

"But nan Athletic Bilbao winger yet opted to motion a caller statement pinch his existent club, truthful Barca were forced to look elsewhere, pinch an attempted move for Liverpool's Luis Diaz besides falling through."

While they would person been prepared to salary a interest for some Williams and Diaz, location is simply a financial advantage to signing Rashford - nan woody would initially beryllium connected indebtedness pinch an action to buy.

"Barcelona's long-standing financial problems are still an rumor and they were hoping to raise costs by trading goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been supplanted by caller signing Joan Garcia," added West.

"But that scheme has been foiled by nan German seasoned requiring backmost surgery, which intends that signing Rashford connected indebtedness has go moreover much enticing."

Stone added: "If it is simply a indebtedness pinch an action to bargain arsenic expected, Barca can't lose.

"Don't forget, Chelsea efficaciously loaned Jadon Sancho for a season, past sent him backmost to Manchester United contempt having an responsibility to bargain aft an inconsistent campaign."

Rashford's champion position has been wide discussed and debated, having operated some disconnected nan left-hand broadside and arsenic a cardinal striker during his career.

But his capacity to play successful some positions is portion of nan attraction to Barcelona.

"Barca are conscious that prima striker Robert Lewandowski, who turns 37 adjacent month, cannot beryllium expected to commencement each game," said West. "So Rashford's expertise to play arsenic a centre-forward aliases a mendacious 9 further adds to his appeal.

"His main opportunities, however, will travel connected nan near wing, which has been a problem position for Barca ever since Neymar's departure to Paris St-Germain 8 years ago.

"In nan existent squad, Raphinha has been re-invented by coach Hansi Flick arsenic a cardinal playmaker, while Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres are unsuited to nan near flank.

"So now Rashford has nan chance to found himself alongside Raphinha, Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal successful Flick's first-choice beforehand four."

So tin he still execute astatine nan aforesaid level arsenic Barca's different forwards?

Rashford has scored 138 goals successful 426 appearances since making his United debut arsenic an 18-year-old successful 2016, adding a further 17 successful 62 games for England.

He has immense acquisition astatine nan very apical level - and, astatine 27, still has perchance galore of his champion years up of him.

But imaginable is simply a connection often utilized successful tandem pinch Rashford's sanction and not since 2022-23 has he reached nan 20-goal people successful a season.

Despite impressing astatine times astatine Villa Park, he still only scored doubly successful nan Premier League - 1 of those a penalty.

"Barcelona cognize they are taking a spot of a risk," said Stone. "And it is not wholly clear what their scheme for Rashford is - it decidedly will not beryllium taking nan spot of Lamine Yamal.

"But they besides know, astatine anyplace adjacent nan apical of his game, nan 27-year-old, successful mentation approaching nan highest years of his career, could beryllium a awesome plus successful La Liga and nan Champions League."