Barcelona’s Potential Attacking Addition - Perfect Match or Tactical Misfit?
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Barcelona’s Potential Attacking Addition - Perfect Match or Tactical Misfit?

Barcelona’s Potential Attacking Addition - Perfect Match or Tactical Misfit?

Aston Villa turned down the chance to sign him, so what's next for Marcus Rashford? It's no secret that the 27-year-old’s Manchester United future is bleak, and has been since he expressed his desire to move away from his boyhood club last December.

Barcelona becomes an increasingly likely destination for Rashford as each day goes by. The Catalonian club are eager to secure a loan deal, as his £350,000+ contract in Manchester is enough to deter anyone willing to permanently sign him away.

Once the future of the Red Devils, and for a while their star man, Rashford’s career in England has imploded in front of him. The forward now finds himself at a vital crossroads in his career path. The claret and blue stripes of Barca appear to be waiting, but whether this is the correct decision is a whole other question waiting to be answered.

Manchester United Downfall

To diminish Rashford’s career to ‘flop’ status would be unfair; to have over 400 games and 200 goal contributions for Manchester United is no easy task. His strong stature over the last decade in the English game can also be highlighted with his 62 caps for England, one game less than Alan Shearer managed, and four away from Paul Scholes and Tony Adams. Yet, it is unmistakable that his career has dramatically dwindled.

Just two years ago, Rashford was coming off the back of a 30-goal season, the second time he had reached 17 goals in a Premier League campaign. The 2023/24 campaign was a major turning point, as the former future star fell out with head coach at the time, Eric Ten Hag. Rashford was dropped for disciplinary reasons, like timekeeping and partying, marking the last time he would have a strong manager-to-player relationship at the club.

Away from manager tensions, the forward also had the pressure of a huge contract on his back. Everyone was aware that he had become one of the highest earners at the club in 2023 and expected him to play like it. Manchester United is known for its worldwide and relentless fan base, full of high expectations, and the attention ultimately got to him.

How will Rashford fit into Flick's Barcelona

Despite the likely arrival of Nico Williams, Barcelona are not deterred from making a move on Rashford. Although the Spanish winger’s arrival will mean that competition will be fiercer, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha marking their territory as Barca’s starting wingers.

Rashford expressed a liking for Spain and a desire to play alongside Yamal, the teenage sensation who cannot escape headlines. Hansi Flick is an admirer of Rashford’s flexibility across the front line, as he could fill any gap in the front three, making him the perfect player to step up to provide fresh legs, or in an injury crisis.

Barcelona might be the ideal club for Rashford as it provides the attacker a chance to step away from the ‘main man’ role, whilst he is still employed at a huge club, and playing in the Champions League (something United cannot offer). Catalonia offers him the chance to gradually rebuild his career abroad, and whilst he might not start, his pace and goalscoring prowess will be valuable off the bench.

The MBE has expressed that Barcelona would be a ‘dream’ transfer for him, witnessing the club’s magic squad growing up in the 2000s. Rashford has experience playing for a club with a global audience, so he would understand the club and its extreme fanbase off the bat. If Barcelona don’t bring in an extra No.9 option to support Robert Lewandowski, Rashford might also be called upon to fill in when the soon-to-be 37-year-old needs to rest.

Issues might arise if the Englishman fails to adapt to Hansi Flick’s pressing style of football, but if Rashford comes to La Liga with an adaptive and willing attitude, life will be a lot easier. Manchester United’s former No.10 should also not expect to be a starter at the Camp Nou, and if he wants instant starting XI action, then Blaugrana is not the right team for him. However, Rashford will be aware of the dilemma that not many clubs of the calibre he seeks will be willing to pay a portion of his wages, leaving him with few options elsewhere.

To answer the question of whether Rashford would be a match or a misfit in Spain, Barcelona feels like a suitable destination only because of the circumstances the player finds himself in. He will have to adapt tactically and find form quickly, as his loan contract gives him less than 10 months to impress. Nevertheless, Rashford has proven that he can be a world-class talent, and with a change of scene, might find himself soon challenging Lewandowski and co for their starting forward spots.

It has become a common affair that those departing Carrington go on to show their true colours elsewhere. This season alone, we have seen recent examples in Scott McTominay, Antony, Dean Henderson, and Anthony Elanga. Hopefully, Rashford’s career can lead him to the same fate, allowing him to finish his career in exactly the way he started.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
James McLeish

Writer

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