Marcus Rashford’s dreams of securing a permanent transfer to Barcelona have taken a major blow despite his promising start.
After Marcus Rashford’s very public falling-out with Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim shortly after his arrival, many believed his Old Trafford career was finished.
The forward made only six appearances under Amorim before sealing a move to Aston Villa, and later achieving a dream loan switch to Barcelona this past summer.
Rashford’s start in Spain could hardly have been better. His performances—highlighted by a decisive brace against Newcastle United in the Champions League opener—had many convinced that Barça would make the move permanent once the season concludes.
Under the terms of the loan deal, Barcelona hold a €30m (£26m) option to buy the England international, a fee that initially seemed like a bargain given his impact.
However, fresh financial revelations have cast doubt over any permanent deal. According to The Athletic, Barcelona’s official salary cap has been cut by €112m (£97.6m), following figures released by La Liga.
The club’s limit now stands at €351m (£306m) as of September 2025, down from February’s figure. The reduction is largely tied to the “VIP zones” financial lever—an arrangement involving the sale of 25 years’ worth of revenue from 475 Camp Nou executive boxes for around €100m (£87.2m).
The drop in spending power could seriously hinder Barcelona’s ability to trigger Rashford’s purchase clause, despite his strong performances and popularity among supporters.
For now, Rashford’s long-term future remains uncertain—Barcelona may want him, but their finances could decide otherwise.
When Marcus Rashford arrived in the summer, Barcelona agreed to take on his wages for the duration of the loan, with the forward accepting a 25% reduction—a move that reportedly saved Manchester United around £14m.
Now, however, with Barça’s salary cap reduced, Rashford could be forced to accept an even steeper cut to his current wage, believed to be around €239,231 (£208,573) per week.
