Man United forward Marcus Rashford looks closer to joining Barcelona permanently, with Spanish football expert Guillem Balague now sharing his verdict.
Even though Rashford had impressed during his loan spell in Spain, there was always doubt about whether a permanent move to Barcelona would happen, especially given the club’s financial issues.
But I Paper journalist Peter Hall has added to the speculation by supporting reports out of Spain that a deal is nearly done.
He posted on X that he understands the deal is finished, and that United will receive the full £26m across several payments.
Balague seems to approve this move.
Guillem Balague comments on Marcus Rashford’s Barcelona move
Rashford has been on loan at Barcelona since last summer and has not looked back, fitting in well from the start.
It was the move he had always wanted, and he has not missed a step since joining. With a deal now looking close, Balague called Rashford a great buy.
The journalist posted: “Bargain!!!!!! 29 LaLiga and Champions League, 9 goals and 10 assists. And, more importantly, he is happy. Which makes him play better. Which makes him happy. Which… The secret of football: context and system.”
£26m for Rashford does look like good value for Barcelona, but United were aware of this when they set the price.
What mattered to them was getting his £325,000-a-week salary off their books. From Ineos’ point of view, the lower fee made sense for that reason alone.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford deal raises questions
Things could have turned out very differently for Rashford at Old Trafford. He had the potential to become a club icon, but over time, his performances and consistency just did not match up to that promise.
He has not managed to reach those heights again since his 40 goal contributions in 2022/23. It has been a gradual decline from there.
That drop-off came right after he signed a £325,000-a-week deal. The timing made it hard not to link the two, and the decision has since come under heavy criticism.
Had Manchester United not offered such a lucrative contract, perhaps things would have played out differently. Maybe Rashford would have stayed more focused and fulfilled the potential many saw in him early on.
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