Now that Barcelona is moving to bring in Marcus Rashford, Football España decided to look for some source information about where the English international is in his career. Two years ago, Rashford looked like the future of Manchester United, but after a difficult enchantment in which he was thrown away by both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, Rashford rocks in Barcelona. We spoke with Isabel Ryan, editor of Manchester United Site Stretty News, to find out more.
So the last time that fans of Barcelona saw Marcus Rashford up close, he shot in goals from all corners and looked like one of the best attackers in the Premier League. I think the best place to start is what has happened in the past two years and how did Rashford come to this point?
Fans of Barcelona will be familiar with the freely scoring Rashford that we saw in 2022/2023 because of the Stellaire showing that in February 2023 he stuck in the Europa League of Xavi Hernandez in the Europa League in the Europa League. He was then rewarded with a lucrative new deal that summer, making him one of the highest earners in the club. Then, in a real united way, things went wrong in the next season.
Rashford would record 22 fewer goals on 23/24, even though he was still familiar with the same permanent starting role that he had previously enjoyed. It is clear as a day with him when his self -confidence is shot, while he starts cutting an all too well -known figure on the field when things just don't work for him for the goal.
Still trouble having the most productive version of itself, supporters thought that Rashford had done exactly when he scored the first goal of Ruben Amorim's term of office after just 80 seconds on Portman Road. However, that was until a fall-out behind the scenes led him to be completely banned from all the action of the first team; His last performance for United came in December 2024.
One of the worries of Barcelona is that two managers of Manchester United have decided not to rebuild with Rashford. Are there 'character problems', are they legitimate? What kind of person does Barcelona go beyond the player?
Rashford is unfortunately one of those English players whose name will be in the headlines every week, regardless of how he is doing on the field. When the press grasps on a player here, there is essentially nothing that they can do to be shown to the masses more in a positive light. Some criticism is justified. Rashford Partying Midweek's reports in Belfast before they are sick for training and omitted from the MatchDay team are unforgivable – that is a purely lack of professionalism.
On the other hand, those who hate spit in his direction on a certain occasion would do well to remember the work that he did for disadvantaged children and families in the working class during the COVID-19 Pandemie. Campaign to put an end to the poverty of children in the UK in the UK, the government led to make U-turn on its free school meal policy, which ensured that those who would continue to benefit during the school holidays in the program.
Such philanthropic work continued during his career to help people less happiness than he is today. Some classes such as PR display, I see it as a man born in a single-parent family, wrestling family, who had to overcome endless barriers on and next to the field to achieve the status he is now, simply use his platform to improve the life of people who navigate in similar situations he did.
Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan in Aston Villa, and the word 'positive' was used to describe it much. How did he continue with Villa and was it positive according to the standards of Rashford or by general consensus?
Rashford did indeed have a new life in Villa in January. It was not his first-choice movement against a rack reports at the time still to pass on his desires to the middle season of Barcelona until their precarious financial situation made the deal impossible.
In the 17 games he played for the villains, he gathered four goals and six assists before missing the last games of his loan spell due to injury. You should wonder what difference he could have made if he had been available to appear in their FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.
The most striking performance of Rashford in Claret and Blue came home in the Champions League quarterfinals second stage at home in any winners Paris Saint-Germain. He played 76 minutes that night and completed four dribbles, four important steps and created two big opportunities, while also offering a crucial assist in the midst of the emphatic victory of Villa.
Everyone who has viewed the game will remember how much Rashford the strings pulled for Unai Emery, hence why those in the stadium felt so dissatisfied when the Englishman was withdrawn in the final phase of the draw for Ollie Watkins. The possibility of performing at such a level in such a high -pressure conflict could prove the game for Barcelona for Barcelona in the coming months.
Barcelona has played with a front three and a number 10 under Hansi Flick, planned with Rashford as a relief for the left -wing position, or to go through the middle as a more typical number nine. Which of those positions fits him best, and what are the pros and cons of him in each of those areas?
Rashford would prefer links, but of course has a lot of experience in both.
His dribbling-as proven in the aforementioned PSG affair cans defenders torment in one-on-one. United fans have already noticed how Real Madrid signed that Trent Alexander-Arnold will probably be furious in Rashford who accompanies him in Spain, given how much sorrow he often caused his fellow countryman during the meetings of United and Liverpool.
It enables him to play at his strengths with his pace and silky footwork, but on the contrary will mean that he has no choice but to follow and put his piece on the left.
As far as he is concerned, Rashford knows where the back of the net is. His ball bursting is sometimes absolutely sensational and a look through his goal catalog in recent years will only prove that.
The point is whether he can be in the right area and cannot float too far, because that will come to him as second nature, or whether he has really refined his finish to have it count in the competitions where there are little opportunities. Moreover, Rashford is not known for its head; Transfermarkt has him down if only nine scoring in his entire senior career for United.
Along a similar way of thinking, although Barcelona's wing players often pressed high against central defenders last season, but if Rashford is asked to follow a full-back of the opposition, will he do it? What are some of the weaknesses of his game?
Indeed, Rashford's lack of tracking back is an unmistakably disadvantage of his game, and one that has seen him under fire on countless occasions. That said, there is no doubt that he wants to make this Barcelona transfer this time next year a permanent transfer, so you can bet that he will do his utmost to score high in the estimates of Hansi Flick – even if this means reluctantly that covers more areas of the grass.
Similarly, there is a clip that often circulates on social media from the FA Cup final of 2023. It shows that Rashford is leaving a 50/50 air duel under no pressure and allowing Manchester City, who then lifted the trophy, a free run to start their attack. Do not show that grit or determination to combat tooth and nail for every ball in a cup final against your rivals at the time is nothing less than a red flag.
People are probably more familiar with the positive side of his game, what are his strengths, what can he bring for this Barcelona team? Are there under underestimated aspects of his skills?
Despite the size and considerable power he has won since he broke on stage in 2015, Rashford remains a Pacey striker who can breeze past his husband, who says something for a towering front man of 6'1 (186 cm). He can show a variety of finishes, in contrast to that of teammate Antony, who had become far too predictable for Premier League defenders with his cutting in before he shoots left.
Finally, what is your informed feeling about this deal? How do you see it going, and why?
I personally like to think it will be a success. He certainly fought hard behind the scenes and he adds to a really stunning harvest of talent, and plays under a no-nonsense, successful coach who also argued for his arrival.
The environment that Rashford is about to enter is worlds, apart from the person he leaves in Manchester; The fact that he will come in this season with opportunities to win silverware on every front, including in the Champions League, will only encourage him to set up his claim for a prominent role from the off.
Bouncing Ballon d'Or contenders such as Raphinha and Lamine Yamal instead of being blamed for the fall of your boy's club after 20 years of service … It is safe to say that it is a chance to take with both hands.
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