Barcelona have opened talks over a deal to sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, with the move edging closer as the Spanish champions seek to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The proposed transfer would initially be a loan move with an option to buy, and discussions involving intermediaries have already taken place. Sources suggest there is optimism on both sides that a deal can be agreed upon.
Rashford, 27, has not featured for United since he was substituted during their 2-1 Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen on 12 December. He was later dropped from the squad by head coach Ruben Amorim and has since been training away from the first team alongside four other players considered surplus to requirements.
A product of United’s academy, Rashford has long dreamed of playing for Barcelona and expressed his desire for a new challenge after falling out of favour at Old Trafford. Speaking in June, Rashford said he would relish the opportunity to play alongside Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. “Everyone wants to play with the best. Hopefully… We’ll see,” he remarked in an interview with Spanish influencer Javi Ruiz.
His contract with Manchester United runs until June 2028, but he has not been assigned a squad number for the upcoming season and was left out of the squad that travelled to Sweden for pre-season preparations. Instead, he has remained at Carrington, training separately under the club’s new regime.
Last season, Rashford was loaned to Aston Villa for the second half of the campaign, making 17 appearances and registering four goals and six assists across all competitions. Despite some flashes of form, his return to United was marred by continued disagreements with Amorim, culminating in his current exile from the first-team setup.
Barcelona’s interest in Rashford is not new. Sporting director Deco has previously expressed his admiration for the England international, stating in May: “We like Luis [Díaz], we like Rashford, and we like other players. When we go to the market, there are names we know that can improve the team.”
The Catalan giants had been heavily linked with Spain winger Nico Williams earlier in the summer, but the Athletic Bilbao star signed a new long-term deal that keeps him at the club until 2035. Rashford now appears to be their primary target to bolster the flanks.
Barcelona, fresh from winning a domestic double in Hansi Flick’s debut season, are eager to continue their momentum. Rashford’s pace, directness, and experience at the top level could add a new dimension to Flick’s evolving squad.
For Manchester United, offloading Rashford—even on a loan basis—would offer financial relief. With a reported weekly salary of £325,000, Rashford is the second-highest earner at the club behind Casemiro. Given United’s hefty spending this summer—over £130 million on forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo—outgoings are necessary to balance the books and facilitate further signings.
While Rashford’s departure would end a significant chapter at Old Trafford—where he debuted under Louis van Gaal in 2016 and has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances—it could be the fresh start both parties need.
The forward’s future under Amorim appears non-existent, and Barcelona could provide the perfect platform for the England star to reignite his career on one of football’s grandest stages.
With negotiations progressing and the transfer window heating up, all eyes will be on Camp Nou and Old Trafford in the coming days as Rashford’s long-speculated move finally takes shape.
