Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford was expected to join Barcelona permanently this summer, but the move never materialised. The Englishman was surplus to requirements under former head coach Ruben Amorim last summer, and the Catalans offered him a lifeline.
Rashford moved to Camp Nou on a season-long loan, and was a revelation in Spain, winning LaLiga and the Supercopa de Espana. The 28 year old finished the campaign with 14 goals and 15 assists, and was one of Hansi Flick’s most important forwards.
Marcus Rashford Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaLiga | 32 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 3 | - | 1,762' |
| UEFA Champions League | 11 | 5 | 5 | 4 | - | - | 579' |
| Copa del Rey | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 249' |
| Supercopa | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 32' |
| Total | 49 | 26 | 14 | 15 | 3 | - | 2,622' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
While Barcelona had an option to sign the player permanently this summer, they turned it down and instead made a move for Anthony Gordon. Rashford was subsequently linked with an exit from Old Trafford but ended up staying.
Catalans sporting director Deco has outlined the reason behind the decision to sign Gordon from Newcastle United this summer.
Deco explains Gordon decision
Speaking to MARCA on Thursday, Deco suggested that Gordon was a better fit for Barcelona’s plans than Rashford. He said: “One of the things we saw that was difficult last year was the fact that, when we were without Raphinha, the team’s energy seemed to drop.”
“We looked at many wingers, but signing players in the Premier League is almost impossible, you see the figures involved. He was the profile that best fit. The great advantage is that the players are excited to come to our project.”
Gordon has hit the ground running in Spain, registering five assists in five games across competitions.
Rashford stay could work to United’s advantage
Rashford’s future was subject to speculation following Barcelona’s snub, but United opted to reintegrate him into the first-team squad during pre-season. Michael Carrick had previously worked with the English forward in his previous capacity as part of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom staff.
Understandably, the English manager was confident that he could get the academy graduate firing on all cylinders. Rashford started the campaign from the bench against Hull City and was in the starting XI against Ipswich Town and Everton.
While the new United No. 9 is yet to register a goal contribution, he has shown great promise. Rashford has recorded the fourth-most successful dribbles and created the fourth-most chances in the Premier League so far, as per FOTMOB.
Rashford was an unused substitute in the 4-0 win over Sabah in the Champions League on Thursday, 10 September, at Old Trafford. However, he is likely to return to the starting XI for the weekend’s Manchester Derby.
Final Thoughts
Rashford has enjoyed an encouraging start to the season with United, and also displayed signs of rekindling his old partnership with Luke Shaw. The English forward now has the perfect opportunity to lay down a marker against Manchester City this weekend, and convince fans that he is here to stay.
Featured image by Carl Recine via Getty Images
