Can Barcelona Fix This Unwanted Star?
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Can Barcelona Fix This Unwanted Star?

Can Barcelona Fix This Unwanted Star?

Marcus Rashford's career has hit a roadblock.

At 27-years-old, the England international should be at the peak of his powers, however the man who burst into life for the Red Devils nine years ago is in peril of seeing his career fizzle out into a sorry end.

With no way back at his boyhood club, Barcelona look to have all but announced the signing of Rashford for next season.

Can the Blaugrana turn his fortunes around in time for the World Cup?

Teenage Sensation

Flying onto the scene, the then-18-year-old Rashford made his Debut against Midtjylland in the Europa League, where he netted twice in a 5-1 victory. That impressive feat was followed up by another brace and an assist three days later on his introduction to the Premier League, by beating Arsenal 3-2.

After continuing to set the league alight for the remainder of his first season, which also included netting a Manchester Derby winner, Rashford was named in England's Euro 2016 squad - he scored inside two minutes on his first England cap in a Euros warm-up friendly to Australia.

Whilst the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Manchester United restricted Rashford mainly to substitute appearances, he still played the most amount of games for the club (53) and was named as the runner-up in the Golden Boy award to Benfica's Renato Sanches.

Because of the Swede's presence, the teenager had to make do with a place out on the wing. Manager Jose Mourinho preferred that role for him anyway, with him publicly stating that Rashford doesn't have what it takes to become a world-class number nine, but can be as a winger.

Consistency is Key

Rashford started the opening match of the 2017/18 Premier League season, providing an assist in a 4-0 demolition job of West Ham United, which was followed up by netting on his Champions League debut against Basel - the sixth competition in which he had scored on his first game.

A third place finish in the 2017 Golden Boy award was to come, plus winners against Liverpool in the derby and Watford on the final day to help United finish second, their best position post-Ferguson, as Rashford was given the number 10 shirt for his performances.

Now with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his manager, Rashford started week in, week out for the club and his performances elevated to new highs - A goal against Cardiff was followed by a goal and assist against Bournemouth, which was capped off by two goal involvements in a 2-0 win against Newcastle, prompting the manager to say he has the chance to become one of the best strikers in world football, contrary to Mourinho.

In March 2019, the best night of Rashford's career-to-date came, as he was influential in the Red Devils overturning a 2-0 home defeat to knock out Paris Saint-Germain on the away goals rule in Paris, with the Englishman scoring a last-gasp penalty to send them through.

Prime Rashford

The 2019/20 season saw Rashford take his performances to scary levels, establishing himself as one of the world's best wingers whilst subsequently striking up a dangerous partnership with the similarly in-form Anthony Martial.

Starting in October with a strike against Liverpool, once again, that ended their 17-match unbeaten streak, the forward went on a remarkable run of 16 goals in 20 games, which included a particularly outrageous free-kick in an EFL Cup tie against Chelsea - Rashford then suffered a double stress fracture to his back which ruled him out for three months.

The COVID disruption meant Rashford was fit enough to close out the season following two months spent on the side lines, and he ended the season with 17 Premier League goals and the PFA Merit Award.

At the start of the next season, the Englishman scored a winning goal against PSG in the Champions League group stage and he then enjoyed a hat trick against RB Leipzig in the next game week - his blistering form looked set to continue.

However, a shoulder injury sustained against Everton meant he played only one full game over the course of the next month, as doctors revealed Rashford hadn't played pain-free in over two years, leading to him scheduling surgery for the summer of 2021.

A Ghost of Himself Surrounds One Elite Season

Returning from the surgery in October that year, Rashford scored on his first game back and netted the winner against West Ham United in the New Year, however his form heavily dipped and his confidence seemed to have deserted him - scoring just five goals and two assists in 32 games.

A fresh start under Erik Ten Hag looked to have reinvigorated his career, as his three goals and two assists in two games against Liverpool and Arsenal meant he had already equalled his league record from the previous season.

At the 2022 World Cup with his country, he scored three times with a goal every 45.66 minutes on average as he helped the Three Lions to the quarter-finals, and he almost saved his nation in injury time with a free-kick against France that skimmed the crossbar.

In early 2023, Rashford was involved in the build-up to Bruno Fernandes' goal, and he then scored the all-important winner as United turned a 1-0 deficit around to win the Manchester Derby in the space of 12 minutes.

Scoring in a 4-1 win over Chelsea in May, the Englishman hit 30 goals for the season, becoming the first United player to do so since Robin Van Persie 10 years prior.

After penning a new £325k per week deal, the player's attitudes and form significantly dipped once more - this time with no injury for an excuse.

In October, Ten Hag disciplined Rashford after the forward was caught in a club celebrating his birthday just hours after losing 3-0 in the Manchester Derby. Three months later, the player missed an FA Cup tie at Newport County after calling in sick, despite being pictured out in Belfast days in advance.

On the pitch, an FA Cup triumph aside, Rashford had his worst season up to that point with only eight goals and six assists, despite playing 43 times.

As a result, Gareth Southgate didn't even name the Englishman in his preliminary team for the 2024 European Championships despite him being one of the manager's usual favourites.

Having made a bright start to Ruben Amorim's tenure with three goals in a month, Rashford was again left out of a matchday squad - this time in the Manchester derby - as the manager said the issue wasn't disciplinary but rather training, performance and engagement with teammates.

This then led to the player telling the media he was 'ready for a new challenge' - signalling the end of his Old Trafford days as he was left out of ten matchday squads following the comment.

Short Loan

Aston Villa took Rashford on a six-month loan deal with an option for the move to be made permanent for £40m.

He started well, securing four assists in his first four matches and at the back end of March, he netted his first two goals for the club against Preston in the FA Cup, followed by a goal against Brighton three days after.

In the second leg of Villa's Champions League quarter-final against eventual winners PSG, Rashford was on top form with an assist as his Villa side won 3-2 on the night. The Villains came close to securing an all-important fourth before he was substituted, and they eventually crashed out on aggregate.

This good run of form earned him his spot back in the national team under new boss Thomas Tuchel, who game him over 140 minutes of football across games against Albania and Latvia, although the German later said he was disappointed with Rashford's performance against the former.

However, his displays curtailed towards the second half of the loan as he registered only one goal and not a single assist following the Brighton match - prompting Villa not to take up the option of signing him and allowing him to return to his boyhood club, where he has publicly stated he wants out.

Fresh Start at Barca

Barcelona have agreed a deal to take Rashford on-loan for the 2025/26 season which includes an option to buy for €30m, with the player taking a 15% pay-cut on his £325k-a-week salary, which Manchester United won't cover any of.

Hansi Flick's Barcelona have the second-highest total of short passes in the league and the penultimate rank of long passes in La Liga, showing their intent of possession-styled football that has helped them gain the highest average possession tally on their way to winning the league.

Out of the top five passers in La Liga for 2024/25, four of them were Barcelona players, plus three of them were within the box that Flick creates (two centre-backs and two central midfielders), which aims to lure the opponents into the midfield that then creates space for wingers out wide.

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha both love to pick up the ball and run into central areas with it and shoot at goal, just like this clip of Yamal's goal in the Champions League semi-final.

During his best years, Rashford also liked to take players on and shoot at goal rather than running to the by line and crossing into the box, which his time as a striker taught him, as this video shows.

On ability alone, set from previous examples of his best days, the Englishman is more than capable of replicating Yamal and Raphinha's success on the wing for Blaugrana, especially as someone like Raphinha started to struggle in the Premier League for Leeds United and has now transformed into the second-favourite to win this year's Ballon D'or.

Even so, tactics aren't going to be the deciding factor for a player with the quality Rashford has at his disposal, rather his attitude has to improve. He'll be hoping that a move to a new country with hot weather away from the critical British press will give him the fresh air he needs.

After all, a Rashford that is firing on all cylinders will only ever be a benefit for England heading into next summer's World Cup.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist

Ashton Cox

Writer

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