Marcus Rashford is still not registered with La Liga prior to Barcelona's first game of the season to Mallorca on Saturday, although progress is being made
The failure of Manchester United to sign West Ham star Jean-Clair Tobido 12 months ago could contain the key to Marcus Rashford that was finally registered by Barcelona. Rashford, 27, came to Barca on a seasonal loan last month, but the English International is still not an official part of the Hansi Flick team for La Liga competitions.
In addition to being a colleague, that is new signing sessions Joan Garcia and Roony Bardghji as well as Wojciech Szczesny and Gerard Martin. This is due to Barcelona who still has problems registering new players in the salary limit of La Liga.
With only three days to go until Barca starts their league campaign to Mallorca, they have a race against the clock. But the permanent relocation from Tobido to West Ham is a boost.
The French defender spent last season with the Premier League club on loan from the French side Nice before a deal worth € 40 million (£ 34 million) was completed in July. Thanks to the insertion of a sales clause when they sold it to Nice, Barcelona withdrew € 8 million (£ 6.9 million).
That was a handy injection of cash for the La Liga champions, who could still earn an amount through the sale of real betis wing player EZ Abde. Barca has a sales clause that, if Roma pays the reported € 20 million (£ 17.2 million), would see them banking of € 4 million (£ 3.4 million).
However, the journey of Todibo could have been very different. United was interested in signing the 25-year-old last summer, only for UEFA to block the transfer.
That was because co-owner of Red Devils Sir Jim Ratcliffe also has a majority interest in Nice and because both teams in the Europa League were in 2024-25, Ratcliffe had to place the Ligue 1-outfit in a blind trust to prevent the Multi-Club ownership rules of UEFA.
The administrative body of European football also prevented the two clubs from trading players, making Ratcliffe furious. During an interview with Bloomberg, the Ineos chairman went to UEFA Chiefs and indirectly referred to the situation of Todibo.
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“They said that we can sell it to another Premiership club, but we cannot sell to Manchester United,” Ratcliffe told Bloomberg. “But that is not fair for the player and I don't see what that achieves.”
Back in Barcelona, club president Joan Laporta is convinced that Rashford and his four teammates will be registered on time. “It is progressing well,” Laporta said earlier this month. “We do our work and we are convinced that we can register everyone.”
Rashford added: “It's something for the club to find out. I believe they will let it sort. I just concentrate on training and am ready for the start of the season.”