Marcus Rashford has completed a surprise loan switch to Barcelona from Manchester United, calling the Catalan giants a place “where dreams come true” as he begins a fresh chapter in LaLiga.
The 27-year-old forward touched down in Spain on Sunday to finalise his move ahead of Barça’s preseason tour of Asia. Rashford will wear the No.14 shirt under new manager Hansi Flick. The deal includes a €30m option to buy next summer, though neither club confirmed the fee.
Barça have admired Rashford for months. His name resurfaced in May when sporting director Deco confirmed the club was targeting a new left winger. Nico Williams and Luis Díaz were both explored, but with Williams extending his Athletic Club stay and Liverpool rejecting Barça’s approach, the path cleared for Rashford.
“This club wins big prizes,” Rashford told Barça TV. “It feels like home. It’s a family club, and that really mattered in my decision.”
His move comes after a tough spell at Manchester United. He had not featured for the club since December and was left out of the squad by manager Ruben Amorim. Rashford spent six months on loan at Aston Villa, but a permanent move did not materialise.
Despite earning £325,000 a week at United, Rashford reportedly has taken a significant pay cut to join Barça. The deal was fast-tracked to ensure he could travel with the squad to Japan and South Korea. There, Barça will face Daegu and FC Seoul where Jesse Lingard, Rashford’s former teammate, now plays.
The Englishman joins an attack packed with talent, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski all competing for places. Flick’s side are coming off a domestic treble, but fell short in the Champions League, losing to Inter Milan in the semi-final.
“I was clear on my preference from the start,” Rashford added. “It didn’t happen in January, but now I’m here.”
