Marcus Rashford says Barcelona ‘feels like home' after completing loan move
Barca's agreement includes an option to make the deal permanent. That clause is reported to be 35million euros (£30.3million) and PA understands the deal sees Barcelona cover Rashford's wages for the campaign.
'I want to win the biggest trophies and feel like Barcelona is a huge club in the football world so it is the perfect place,' Rashford said in a press conference.
'You see with the team last season, they have a young ambitious team and I want to add my qualities, my personality, improve the team and help them win…
'(It was) not difficult. I was clear on my preference from the beginning. Actually from maybe in January. It didn't work out in January so I went to Aston Villa and enjoyed a good period there. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to play there.
'The summer came around very quickly, it was time to make another decision. My choice was easy. It's a family club, something I'm used to from my past.
'It feels like home. I feel I made the right decision. I'm excited to get going and eager to play the first game in front of the fans.'
The 27-year-old came through the ranks at United but has not added to his 426 first-team appearances for the club since being hauled off in a Europa League match away to Viktoria Plzen on December 12.
Along with Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, Rashford had been training away from Ruben Amorim's first-team squad since pre-season began as they explored their options in the transfer market.
Asked about United during his unveiling in Barcelona, Rashford said: 'The situation with United is the club is in a period of change and they have been for a while. I don't have anything bad to say about Manchester United as it has been an important part not only in my career but my life.
'I was grateful for the opportunity to play for them. But football is like life – not everything goes as simply as you thought and this is my next chapter. I'm fully focused on this and trying to improve myself and helping the team win trophies.
'I don't have anything bad to say about United. I wish them all the best and hope they are successful in the future.'
🗞️ Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on a season-long loan.
Best of luck, Marcus 👊
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 23, 2025
Rashford departs 23rd in United's all-time appearance list and as their 15th-highest scorer with 138 goals, having notched a brace on his February 2016 debut against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.
He won five major trophies with his boyhood club and was crowned their player of the year in 2022-23 after scoring a career-high 30 goals, which saw him rewarded with a reported £325,000-a-week deal until 2028.
The Premier League club said: 'Everyone at Manchester United wishes Marcus good luck for the season.'
Rashford, who scored 17 goals in 62 England appearances, will hope the move boosts his chances of going to next summer's World Cup.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
22 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Arne Slot leaves Luis Diaz out of AC Milan friendly due to ongoing speculation
Bayern Munich are understood to have reopened dialogue with the Premier League champions, having had an initial offer of 67.5million euros (£59m) dismissed last week. Liverpool have maintained they do not want to sell the forward – who has also attracted interest from Barcelona – and the Bundesliga champions' bid was way below their own valuation of 100m euro (£87m) for an elite forward in the global market. Diaz turns 29 in January and has two years left on his current deal but has not yet had an offer of a new contract. 'In Lucho's (Diaz's) situation, there's a lot of rumours around him lately and I cannot go into that,' said Slot. 'He's training really well with us but we have decided for now not to play him yet. 'I'm used to talking to most of my players on a regular basis. I cannot comment much more about that.' Joe Gomez has departed Liverpool's pre-season tour of Asia due to injury, Arne Slot has confirmed. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 26, 2025 Asked whether Diaz wanted to leave, Slot added: 'That is not the person to ask, me.' Striker Darwin Nunez, whose own future appears to lie away from Anfield, and midfielder Wataru Endo missed the game with minor fitness issues. Club-record signing Florian Wirtz made his first start as a false nine, with latest signing Hugo Ekitike left out of the squad, having only arrived on Thursday after completing his arrival in a £79m deal on Wednesday. Slot played two different starting XIs in each half, with midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and left-back Kostas Tsimikas both required to fill a centre-back role after Joe Gomez returned home for treatment on an Achilles injury. 'We thought it was better to assess it back in England and for him to work on him to come back to the team, probably in more ideal circumstances for him,' added Slot, who denied Gomez's absence left him dangerously-short in the position after selling Jarrell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. 'I don't think we have a concern at centre-back. I think Ryan (Gravenberch) showed today that he can play in that position. He did it last season as well. 'Although we all know we favour him as a number six, Wata (Endo) can play there. Joe Gomez only has a minor injury, he has been good for us last season as well. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 26, 2025 'We have enough options left but it's true that Jarell Quansah left and we haven't replaced him yet.' Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo scored the goals for Liverpool, who paid tribute to forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva after their deaths in a car crash earlier this month. Players wore shirts bearing a logo with the Portugal international's name and number and a heart, and Sir Kenny Dalglish laid a wreath in front of supporters who held up a DJ 20 mosaic.
South Wales Guardian
22 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Arne Slot leaves Luis Diaz out of AC Milan friendly due to ongoing speculation
Bayern Munich are understood to have reopened dialogue with the Premier League champions, having had an initial offer of 67.5million euros (£59m) dismissed last week. Liverpool have maintained they do not want to sell the forward – who has also attracted interest from Barcelona – and the Bundesliga champions' bid was way below their own valuation of 100m euro (£87m) for an elite forward in the global market. Diaz turns 29 in January and has two years left on his current deal but has not yet had an offer of a new contract. 'In Lucho's (Diaz's) situation, there's a lot of rumours around him lately and I cannot go into that,' said Slot. 'He's training really well with us but we have decided for now not to play him yet. 'I'm used to talking to most of my players on a regular basis. I cannot comment much more about that.' Joe Gomez has departed Liverpool's pre-season tour of Asia due to injury, Arne Slot has confirmed. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 26, 2025 Asked whether Diaz wanted to leave, Slot added: 'That is not the person to ask, me.' Striker Darwin Nunez, whose own future appears to lie away from Anfield, and midfielder Wataru Endo missed the game with minor fitness issues. Club-record signing Florian Wirtz made his first start as a false nine, with latest signing Hugo Ekitike left out of the squad, having only arrived on Thursday after completing his arrival in a £79m deal on Wednesday. Slot played two different starting XIs in each half, with midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and left-back Kostas Tsimikas both required to fill a centre-back role after Joe Gomez returned home for treatment on an Achilles injury. 'We thought it was better to assess it back in England and for him to work on him to come back to the team, probably in more ideal circumstances for him,' added Slot, who denied Gomez's absence left him dangerously-short in the position after selling Jarrell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. 'I don't think we have a concern at centre-back. I think Ryan (Gravenberch) showed today that he can play in that position. He did it last season as well. 'Although we all know we favour him as a number six, Wata (Endo) can play there. Joe Gomez only has a minor injury, he has been good for us last season as well. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 26, 2025 'We have enough options left but it's true that Jarell Quansah left and we haven't replaced him yet.' Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo scored the goals for Liverpool, who paid tribute to forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva after their deaths in a car crash earlier this month. Players wore shirts bearing a logo with the Portugal international's name and number and a heart, and Sir Kenny Dalglish laid a wreath in front of supporters who held up a DJ 20 mosaic.
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Indian FA reveals job applications from Pep Guardiola and former Barcelona manager Xavi were a HOAX, after team director was tricked by fake emails
The Indian Football Association has revealed it was duped by fake emails claiming to be from football royalty Pep Guardiola and Xavi, who were said to have applied to become the country's next national team coach. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed in a statement that the applications, which had reportedly come via email, were not genuine. 'The AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez,' a statement said. 'The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine.' Earlier this week, the AIFF's national team director had told the Times of India that Xavi's name had appeared among the applicants – with a technical committee member claiming he was considered too expensive to pursue. It has now emerged that Guardiola's name was also fraudulently included. Xavi is currently unemployed after leaving his role as Barcelona boss in May, while Guardiola remains under contract with Manchester City until 2027. Neither has ever managed a national team, although Guardiola has previously expressed interest. 'A national team. I would like to train a national team for a World Cup or a European Championship. I would like that,' Guardiola said last year. 'I don't know who would want me! To work for a national team they have to want you, just like a club.' India are searching for a replacement for Manolo Márquez, who was sacked this month after a brief stint and has returned to his former club FC Goa. The national side are currently ranked 133rd in the world and were knocked out in the second round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The AIFF confirmed it had received 170 applications for the vacant role, narrowing them to a shortlist of 10 before selecting three final candidates. 'Given the immediate needs of the national team, it is advisable to recommend three coaches from the shortlisted pool for final consideration,' the AIFF said. 'Other prominent applicants, many of whom are highly qualified international coaches, will be taken into account for long-term strategic roles in the future.' According to the Times of India, the three candidates being considered are former India manager Stephen Constantine, ex-Slovakia boss Stefan Tarkovic, and Indian football stalwart Khalid Jamil. India have never competed at a men's FIFA World Cup, although they did qualify for the 1950 tournament in Brazil before later withdrawing.
