Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Newcastle United v FC Barcelona - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 18, 2025 FC Barcelona's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Barcelona are eyeing a permanent deal for on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. The 27-year-old has impressed for the Catalans so far, with two goals and one assist in his six games in all competitions for the club.
His goals came in an impressive brace against Newcastle in Barcelona’s Champions League opener, as the the La Liga giants ran out 2-1 winners as St James’ Park on Thursday. Sky Sports has reported that Barca are keen to keep the player beyond his loan, and are weighing up triggering the cut-price £26m buy option.
He was however dropped for Sunday’s game against Getafe after arriving late to a team meeting before training. Despite this angering manager Hansi Flick, the England international has impressed his new manager overall after joining the club this summer.
The loan agreement does not include a recall option, so United cannot summon Rashford back to Old Trafford this season.
Rashford could be set for permanent Old Trafford departure
Rashford has spent most of the last two years effectively exiled from United. After spending the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, he spent this summer as part of United’s “bomb squad” of players who trained separate from the first team.
He took his place alongside Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, and Tyrell Malacia as players told my United boss Ruben Amorim to find a new club this summer. Rashford impressed during his spell with Villa last season, scoring two goals and providing four assists across 14 total appearances.
His most memorable performance came as a late cameo in Villa’s spirited defeat to PSG in the Champions League Quarter Final. He provided an assist and nearly scored an equalize as Unai Emery’s men won the second leg but fell just short of an aggregate comeback.
Villa were interested in making the move permanent but struggled to stump up the cash following PSR constraints. Rashford always favoured a move to the Camp Nou and expressed his desire to join Barcelona earlier in the summer.
His wish was granted and he has now hit the ground running for the La Liga champions.
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