 "Marcus Rashford in action for Manchester United. AFP")
Marcus Rashford, who has struggled to find a stable game time in the last 8 months and has made a major loan switch to Aston Villa, is edging closer to a dream move to Camp Nou as the loan deal is set to become official soon. The transfer has left Barcelona fans hyped, and Manchester United are also seemingly satisfied, given the fact they they did not fancy his return and were seeking an ideal avenue to send the footballer. Thus, a win-win situation has prevailed on all ends.
However, United would be concerned on one account, which is that the Catalonia club has the option to buy Rashford for about 30 million euros. Should Rashford prosper under Hansi Flick, then that price will come out as a huge bargain.
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Keeping away the intricacies related to the move, one could wonder why Marcus Rashford, who could not find a starting spot in a United team that finished 15th in the league and later was not able to cement a place in Aston Villa, is set to be welcomed with open arms by La Liga champions Barcelona?
Rashford and Barcelona: A match made by destiny
There is no complex way to put this out, but United is yearning for more quality in the team and with a struggling lineup, they need a forward who can carry the team and do it consistently. Bruno Fernandes is currently playing the said role in the team. As for Aston Villa, Rashford took the challenge and started on a bright note by scoring goals and providing assists but the salary constraints and injury setback did not let him settle at the club. And before things could have improved, his loan spell ended.
With FC Barcelona, the situation is different. The team already has a potent lineup, and the expectations with Rashford are not high. He is expected to improve the already formidable side, which includes the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha, and many more. The squad does not have the pain points that United and Villa deal with on a weekly basis. Also, he may not attain a starting role in the current Barcelona squad, which will only ease his pressure.
Marcus’ stint at Barca will be judged strictly on what he produces off the bench. And should he deliver a winner as a substitute, then he will become a fan favourite in no time. With the skills he harbour, there is every possibility that it can happen; he can finish a long ball provided by Pedri and can set up Lewandowski for a tap-in. He can prove to be devastating on the left.
Moreover, he has conveyed that he is looking forward to playing with Yamal, who is unarguably the most exciting talent in the football world currently. On top of everything, Barcelona is Marcus Rashford’s dream club. Thus, he tends to give his best under Hansi Flick.
With the FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place next year, a decent gig at his dream club could bring Rashford back in the scheme of things for the England squad.