Barcelona have been handed an update in their potential bid to keep Marcus Rashford for the long term. Rashford enjoyed an impressive loan spell with Barca, scoring 14 times and providing as many assists, helping Hansi Flick's men to the LaLiga title.
Barca had the option to keep Rashford in the form of an option to buy, but they decided not to activate it, and the forward has now returned to Old Trafford, at list contractually, given he is at the World Cup with England.
Barca are not ruling out signing Rashford permanently, but they are currently concentrating on landing a new striker to replace Robert Lewandowski. If the opportunity fits down the line, and indeed if it remains a possibility, they will consider it then.
Rashford's plan for now
For now Rashford is fully concentrating on the World Cup with England, but in the wake of potential interrest from England, it seems he is prioritising a stay at Old Trafford, now able to work with a new boss in Michael Carrick, who was not there when he left the club.
David Ornstein reported on X: "Marcus Rashford deal at Man Utd includes £40m clause for all clubs bar #MCFC & #LFC. €30m buy option in Barcelona loan expired yesterday. If returns to #MUFC 28yo’s preference is to honour contract (2028) rather than join another PL side."
Whether Rashford's stance is similar for clubs outside the Premier League remains to be seen, but you would have to think he would consider a Barcelona return given the success he has just had at the club.
The other question is whether Barca will be able to get the same price now that they have passed up a cheaper option to buy. United are now within their rights to demand the full clause, and they are even more likely to if Rashford goes and has an impressive World Cup this summer.
Barca may regret not taking up that option, but they have committed to an approach of concentrating solely on the striker chase, and that has also cost them a shot at Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella this summer, and both have agreed to join Real Madrid.
Time will tell whether those misses will come back to haunt the Blaugrana, but much will come down to whether Barca get their striker signing right. If they do, the misses will be forgotten about quickly.
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