FC Barcelona has been busy in recent days — after securing the contract renewal of Lamine Yamal and arranging Ansu Fati’s departure, the club has turned its focus to strengthening the squad.
According to SPORT, Barça’s sporting director Deco met this week in a Barcelona hotel with the agent of Marcus Rashford, discussing a possible move for the Manchester United forward.
Barça had already targeted Rashford during the January transfer window, but financial constraints related to La Liga’s fair play rules made a loan deal impossible at the time.
Now, with their top target Luis Díaz proving too expensive, Barcelona is exploring more affordable alternatives — and Rashford has emerged again as a real option. The club appreciates his skillset, but more importantly, his signing wouldn’t require a major financial investment. A loan deal with an option to buy is the most likely route.
Internally, Barcelona sees this as a “win-win” situation: if Rashford performs well, they’ll consider a full transfer in 2026. If not, they can part ways without a major loss.
Despite having a contract with Manchester United until 2028, Rashford appears ready to leave Old Trafford — and even England — to revive his career. His loan spell at Aston Villa this season showed flashes of his quality, although a late injury disrupted his momentum. Villa, having missed out on Champions League qualification, are unlikely to keep him.
United are reportedly open to selling Rashford for around €40 million, as he’s not in the plans of incoming manager Rúben Amorim. If Rashford rejects other offers and remains patient, Barcelona believes they could secure a favorable deal.
Rashford is also willing to lower his salary to make the move happen — a key detail, given Barça’s ongoing financial limitations. The recent meeting between his agent and Deco confirmed mutual interest, and both parties are prepared to move forward cautiously.
New Barça coach Hansi Flick has already given his approval. He values Rashford’s speed, direct style, and ability to play both on the wing and as a central striker. Speaking recently, Flick noted the team needs more left-wing options and attacking depth — a role Rashford could fill perfectly.
While Rashford’s patience went unrewarded in January, this summer could finally bring the move he’s been waiting for.
