A surprise new club have joined the race to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United this summer, according to a report.
Rashford began his 2024/25 season by playing the full 90 minutes in United’s 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford.
Although the 26-year-old was not included in England’s Euro 2024 squad after a challenging previous season, the omission allowed him to enjoy a complete pre-season with Erik ten Hag’s team.
It remains to be seen whether this pre-season will benefit United or another club.
Reports from Goal indicate that Barcelona have entered the competition to acquire Rashford from Manchester United this summer.
Barcelona is on the verge of finalizing the departure of midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who is expected to return to Manchester City a year after his previous departure on a free transfer.
This move could generate funds for new acquisitions, although it is said that the Gundogan transfer is partly necessary due to the significant €57 million expenditure on RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo.
Goal also reports that Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, has specifically requested Rashford, seeking a left winger with strong dribbling and shooting abilities for his squad.
Barcelona’s attempt to sign Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, who impressed at Euro 2024 with Spain, has fallen through, leading them to shift their focus to the English market.
Earlier this week, Barcelona’s manager Hansi Flick suggested that acquiring new players might be challenging for the remainder of the transfer window due to difficulties in registering new signings for La Liga.
He remarked: “I’m optimistic, but there’s still time left. I trust the club. We have more players available in the team, and I hope they can return from injury soon.
I’m actually satisfied with the players I have. When I signed my contract, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but given all the injuries we have, I’m looking forward to their return.”
