In the latest twist to Marcus Rashford’s long-running contract saga, Spanish media are reporting that the 28-year-old forward is willing to take a pay cut to force through a permanent move to Barcelona that is becoming increasingly precarious.
Marca reported earlier last week that Barcelona are set to let five key players leave the club this summer amid a squad overhaul, with Rashford among them.
This comes after Hansi Flick’s side were dumped out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid, although they are on course to retain their La Liga title as early as this weekend if results go their way.
This has been aided in part by Rashford scoring an important second goal from the bench against Getafe at the weekend.
Now, Barcelona-based outlet Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Rashford is not planning for a future anywhere other than with the Catalan side, despite being under contract with boyhood club Manchester United until 2028 and his future becoming increasingly uncertain.
Rashford has scored 13 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions for Barcelona this season, as well as winning two penalties. His one goal involvement every 89 minutes is the highest across Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico.
Barca are on course to retain their La Liga title as early as this weekend if results go their way – aided in part by Rashford scoring an important goal from the bench against Getafe on Saturday
Rashford has been regularly rotated out of the starting XI this season, but this is not something he considers concerning given that he is competing with a group of eight top attackers
Months ago it seemed as though a permanent move to Barcelona was nailed on after a preliminary contract agreement had been reached.
Under the terms of the agreement, the La Liga side have the option to make the move permanent for a pre-agreed fee – around £25 million (€30m) at the end of the season.
In the last week, though, that deal appears to be on the brink of collapsing, with reports stating that Barcelona are looking to lower the loan fee, while Manchester United have no intention of budging on the original price. Part of this is due to his age, as he is due to turn 29 in October.
Such is Rashford’s eagerness to stay at the club, Mundo Deportivo have reported that he is willing to take a ‘significant’ cut to his salary.
The forward signed a £325,000-a-week, five-year contract in July 2023, although he accepted a small drop last summer in order to push through the move to Spain, where the club were prepared to pay his wages in full.
If he were to return to United, he would become the club’s highest earner, with the current top earner, Casemiro, set to depart at the end of the season.
Reducing United’s wage bill has been one of the priorities of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe since he took over, and a return for Rashford would dent progress on this.
The Spanish outlet state that Rashford is ‘confident’ that he will still stay at Barcelona, stating he feels ‘settled and valued in a squad he considers the best in the world’.
Rashford has also been able to relocate his dog, a Cane Corso called Saint, to Barcelona
The forward also appears to have reconnected with his former fiancee Lucia Loi, with the pair taking in a basketball game in December
He has been regularly rotated out of the starting XI this season, but this is not something he considers concerning given that he is competing with a group of eight top attackers.
Flick values Rashford, even though his decisions and performances in certain matches have raised some doubts, according to the report.
The German manager refused to be drawn on Rashford’s future earlier this month after he scored against Atletico Madrid, saying: ‘I’m very happy with Marcus. He has shown his quality and he scored an important goal.
‘I can’t say anything about his future, we have to focus on the matches until the end of the season.’
Besides enjoying life away from the intensity of the Manchester United spotlight, Rashford appears to have reunited with his childhood sweetheart last year after two years apart.
She regularly posts videos of her enjoying the city and spending time with their dogs, and is said to be a stabilising influence on his life.
Rasfhord’s upturn in performances at Barca meanwhile has seen him become a fundamental part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, and it now appears highly likely he will be part of the Three Lions squad for this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Rashford is reported to want his future cleared up before the tournament kicks off in mid-June.
