Marcus Rashford’s loan move to FC Barcelona has not only reignited his career but also brought a new revelation: his current spell at the club was not the first time he had engaged in discussions with the La Liga side.
The England international, currently 27, confirmed that talks with Barcelona had taken place previously, but the timing never aligned. “It’s not the first time I spoke with Barcelona about potentially coming here, but for whatever reasons it didn’t happen in the past, and now is my opportunity to make it happen,” Rashford stated.
After spending more than 20 years with Manchester United, the move away from Old Trafford was driven by a genuine desire for a new environment. “People forget this, but 23 years of my life were with Manchester United. So sometimes you just need a change,” he admitted in an interview with Goal.com. The forward, who had a challenging final year at United, including a loan to Aston Villa, feels he has found the fresh start he needed in Catalonia. “I think maybe this is the case with me, and yeah, I’m enjoying everything,” he added.
Since his arrival on a season-long loan on July 23, 2025, Rashford has been in formidable form, flourishing under the guidance of coach Hansi Flick. He has been a critical component of Barcelona’s attack, accumulating five goals and six assists in his first 12 appearances across all competitions.
His exceptional performances have solidified his desire to remain at the Camp Nou permanently. When asked about his future, Rashford made his intentions clear, “Oh yeah, for sure. I’m enjoying this football club, and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game. For a player is an honor.” He also told the Barcelona YouTube channel that he hopes to be at the club “for a long time.”
While Rashford is under contract with Manchester United until 2028, the loan deal to Barcelona includes a crucial option to buy. This clause would allow the Spanish club to secure the forward permanently for an agreed fee, reported to be in the region of €30–35 million (£30.3 million), as detailed by multiple sources.
Though Barcelona is reportedly “delighted” with Rashford’s strong start, they are exercising patience before finalizing the move. SPORT reports that the La Liga champions are in “no hurry” and will wait a few months to ensure his high level of performance is consistently maintained before they proceed with the purchase option. Given the player’s clear desire and his immediate success in Spain, all signs point towards a permanent transfer being a distinct possibility at the end of the season.
