Marcus Rashford looks set to swap Manchester for Barcelona, with reports suggesting a loan deal is nearly done.
The 27-year-old forward, who hasn’t featured for Manchester United since December 12, spent the latter half of last season on loan at Aston Villa. Now, it seems he’s eyeing a permanent break from his boyhood club—and he’s not alone. Rashford is reportedly one of five players who’ve told United they’re ready for a fresh start elsewhere.
Sources say Barcelona has been his top choice ever since new United manager Ruben Amorim left him out of the squad. Negotiations are reportedly underway for a season-long loan to the Spanish champions, with an option to buy included in the deal.
Rashford, who rose through United’s academy and netted 138 goals across 426 appearances, hinted at his desire for change back in December. More recently, he expressed interest in playing alongside rising Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.
Since pre-season kicked off, Rashford has been training separately from the first team. His former No. 10 jersey has already been handed to Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha, one of United’s recent signings alongside left-back Diego Leon.
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has publicly praised Rashford, while head coach Hansi Flick has called him a “fantastic player”—comments that now carry even more weight as a move looks increasingly likely.
United’s recent transfer activity suggests they’re making room. The club just agreed a deal worth £65 million for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, but additional signings will likely depend on players leaving. Even if Rashford departs on loan, the wage relief alone would be significant.
Barcelona, meanwhile, had been targeting Spain winger Nico Williams, but the 23-year-old has committed his future to Athletic Bilbao with a new decade-long deal. That could clear the path for Rashford, as the Catalan side looks to build on a successful season that saw them lift both the league title and domestic cup in Flick’s debut year.
For Rashford, it may just be the fresh start he’s been waiting for.
