Marcus Rashford’s Barcelona move seems to have worked out nicely for all involved, but his future isn’t resolved just yet
It has been a whirlwind 12 months for Marcus Rashford. At this point last season he was still playing in the Premier League, on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim clear that he wasn’t keen on using the England international going forward.
Then, in the summer, a dream move occurred. Barcelona signed Rashford on a loan deal with an option to buy. If Barcelona want to keep the forward, which is the believed outcome, then they will have to pay United only £26m. Despite impressing for the club in his first few months, Rashford has lost his place in the starting XI of late and questions are likely to be asked about his future at the club if that continues.
In the last three games, Rashford has been named on the bench instead of starting. In the two Champions League games against Slavia Prague and Copenhagen, he came on at 60 minutes and 70 minutes respectively, bagging a goal against the latter in the final game of the league phase.
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In the La Liga match sandwiched between those two European fixtures, he was an unused substitute. Despite that uncertainty about his role at Camp Nou, he’s still enjoying life in Catalonia – and probably more so than during his time under Amorim.
The treatment of Rashford at United by Amorim was seen as harsh by Wayne Rooney, as he explained on an episode of Stick To Football last year.
“I went into Carrington on Sunday to take my kids to game day and Marcus Rashford was out on the training pitch with the fitness coach,” Rooney explained.
“But he was right over towards where the parents were walking past for the kids’ games. I looked at him, thinking how embarrassing it must be for him as parents walk past.”
He added: “I was surprised when [Marcus Rashford’s training issues] started over two years ago, but now I’m not.
“I’ve spoken to Marcus a couple of times and I’ve given him my thoughts and feelings that he needs to leave the football club because whatever is going on in his life and at Manchester United, he’s not the same.
“For him to have a fresh start, he needs to leave the club. The fact that your manager is coming out and saying that you’re not training right is crazy.”
And get the fresh start, he did. Despite the lack of game time in recent weeks it seems increasingly likely that Barcelona will sign the former United man. Even in his substitute appearance against Copenhagen, he made an impact by scoring a superb dipping free-kick from the left side.
On embedding himself into Spanish culture, in December, Rashford spoke about the challenges of learning the language. “It’s different, but it’s a great learning curve for me,” he said.
“And even little things, I’ve not done it completely yet, but learning the language and stuff like that, learning the culture, it’s all enjoyable for me.
“It’s a new language of football. I’ve always been, like many people in the world, an admirer of Spanish football. To play for the biggest club in Spain is a huge honour. I’m looking forward to playing more games here, just doing my best and try to help the team to win.”
;)
