Manchester United gets a player without a future under Ruben Amorim from their books and freeing up considerable space on their wage account. Barcelona acquires a potential world -class attacker without committing himself to sign him for a permanent deal.
But the biggest winner in the move of Marcus Rashford from Old Trafford to Camp Nou on loan with an option to buy is the player himself. He exchanges a side that ended the 15th in the Premier League in the past term for one that won a domestic double and achieved the favorites of this season to win the Champions League.
He plays with Lamine Yamal, a wish made public during an interview Spanish influencer Javi Ruiz last month. It seemed that he might not have had the opportunity when Barcelona then tried to sign the Nico Williams of Athletic Club, then Luis Diaz of Liverpool, but it all came together for him after those movements were not delivered.
It is not what someone at Manchester United had in mind in 2023, when he signed a five-year contract worth £ 325,000 a week after an excellent season 30-goal season under Erik ten Hag. The idea was that his boys' club would enjoy his peak years.
But Rashford's output fell dramatically in the next campaign and despite the early encouragement after the appointment of Amorim last year, in the form of three goals in his first three games, he was quickly fell through the new head coach due to disciplinary problems and poor performance in training.
In what could prove to be in a Manchester United shirt, road to Europa League opponents Viktoria Plzen in December last year, Rashford was addicted after just 56 minutes and boasts by a few supporters when he left.
A lot has changed by the time that his loan spell will end next summer. It is not inconceivable that a change from manager could reopen the door to him at Old Trafford. But it is almost impossible to see a way back for him under this. It feels a necessary farewell to manners. He needs a new start and his club too.
It is now up to him to show Barcelona that he is worth signing permanently. If he can reach the heights of his best seasons, in 2019/20 and 2022/23, it is an easy decision for them, especially with the purchase clause just £ 26 million. He is still only 27.
His challenge is to finally deliver consistency, on and next to the field, but his time on loan in Aston Villa in the second half of last season offers encouragement. Rashford seemed rejuvenated under Unai Emery and contributed four goals and five assists in 17 games in all competitions before his campaign was terminated by injury.
His performances earned him a recall from England from Thomas Tuchel and it was not only in an attacking capacity that he impressed.
Rashford's off-the-ball work was also improved in particular. He on average almost four times as many tackles per 90 minutes for Aston Villa as in the first half of the campaign for Manchester United.
He also showed his versatility and initially played on the left flank and increased Ollie Watkins in the role of No. 9. Eventually he played more minutes in advance than he as a winger and produced a striking version in the role of Villa's second stage in the second stage of Paris Saint-Germain in April.
A week later he let Roy Keane sing his praise after a new striking in front of a late defeat against Manchester City. “If there is grass for him, he is almost every player,” said the Sky Sports Pundit. “Ask the defenders, he is a nightmare. It is almost impossible to stop.”
They undoubtedly helped to convince Barcelona of his ability to harm the top opposition. “We love Rashford,” their sports director Deco confirmed a month later.
It will be interesting to see how they use it.
That said in an interview with Sky Sports Pundit Gary Neville in 2023 that he preferred to play on the left wing, Rashford now seems to see himself as a striker. “For me, playing as a no. 9 becomes more comfortable, more natural,” he said Ruiz.
Barcelona will hope that he appears to be useful for them in both roles, but previously tried to sign Williams and Diaz, it seems likely that he is mainly seen as someone to compete on the left wing.
It will not be easy to appropriate the Brazil international, which is one of the most important players in Barcelona. Last season he was named Liga Player of the Year and scored 34 goals in 57 games in all competitions.
Rashford may not start every match, but Barcelona would not have accepted his enormous wages if they did not see him form a significant part of their plans. He will at least add offensive depth and allow head coach Hansi -Flick to turn both in the front and the left.
Robert Lewandowski continues to brave his years. He produced his highest scoring season so far for the last term of the club, with 42 goals. But he will be 37 next month. His minutes must be managed. Their new arrival can offer an alternative option in its position.
For Rashford, the challenge is just to prove the most out of all the opportunities he gets and to Barcelona that he is worth extracting from Old Trafford on a permanent basis.
But by moving from a distressed European giant in Manchester United to one in a position of strength at Champions League level in Barcelona, and to get the chance to prove himself again, he seems to be the biggest winner of the deal.