Marcus Rashford has given his potential next club the green light after his hopes of joining Barcelona permanently this summer appear to be in tatters. The Manchester United forward has already expressed interest in a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, comments that have resurfaced following the end of his loan spell at Barcelona.
The 28-year-old scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists for the Catalan giants, helping them win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. However, his loan exploits were not deemed enough to secure a permanent stay at the club. Barcelona have turned down the option to buy Rashford for £26 million, instead signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for £70 million.
Rashford's Previous Comments on Real Madrid
Speaking in 2021, Rashford expressed interest in playing in La Liga, something he has now achieved with Barcelona. “I would never say no,” he said on the possibility of playing in Spain. “Other than United? I'm a big fan of Real Madrid and Barcelona, because they've always had great players and played attractive football. Everybody watches Real Madrid and Barcelona.”
Rashford played regularly under Mourinho during the Portuguese's spell at Old Trafford between 2016 and 2018, becoming one of the Premier League's in-form attackers. However, he fell out of favour with former United boss Ruben Amorim and was loaned to Aston Villa for six months in January 2025. He joined Barcelona in the summer of 2025.
Why Barcelona Ditched Rashford
According to reports in Spain, Barcelona chose Gordon over Rashford due to the winger's defensive capabilities, which were described as Rashford's 'weakest point'. The three-year age gap also played a role, with Gordon still only 25. Rashford's reported £315,000-a-week wages were also a concern. Barcelona informed United they were only willing to pay half of the suggested fee, around £13 million, which United rejected.
Barcelona have also shown interest in a free transfer for Bernardo Silva following his Manchester City exit, and reports suggest they are ready to offer over £100 million for Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez.
Rashford's Next Move
Following the news that he would not be making a permanent move to Spain, Rashford deleted all references to Barcelona from his social media channels. His next move could be to Real Madrid or a host of other clubs said to be interested, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayern Munich. However, he may be forced to take a dramatic pay cut to secure a permanent move away from United. An Old Trafford comeback is also uncertain, having not played for his boyhood club since December 2024.
