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Reuters
20 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
'It feels like home': Rashford joins Barcelona on loan from Man United
July 23 (Reuters) - England forward Marcus Rashford said Barcelona was a club where "dreams come true" as he joined the LaLiga champions on Wednesday on a season-long loan from Manchester United with an option to buy. Media reports said that Barcelona would cover Rashford's wages this season after the player accepted a pay cut, with the option to buy set at around 30 million euros ($35.25 million) for the 27-year-old. "Very excited. I think it's a club where people's dreams come true. They win big prizes. And what the club stands for really means a lot to me as well. So it feels like I am at home," Rashford told reporters following his unveiling. "Another factor is because the conversations I had with the manager (Hansi Flick) were positive. What he did last season was terrific. "To lead such a young team to a very successful season and come back to pre-season and still want to do more, it shows me everything I thought I knew about the club and it's everything I wished." Once seen as a club icon and homegrown star, Rashford had a dramatic fall from grace at United, marked by a falling out with manager Ruben Amorim that paved the way for him to move to Aston Villa on loan in February. "(Manchester United) is in a period of change and they have been for a while. I don't have anything bad to say as it has been an important part not just of my career but my life, so I was grateful for the opportunity," he added. "But like life not everything goes as simple as you thought and this is my next chapter and I'm fully focused on improving myself and helping the team win trophies." Barcelona said Rashford had signed his contract earlier in the afternoon. "Rashford can play anywhere in attack. Right footed, he can take players on and is an excellent finisher, talents he can now show in a Barca shirt," the club said in a statement. The move came after Manchester-born Rashford, who made 426 senior appearances and scored 138 goals for United in all competitions, fell out of favour with Amorim, who called his workrate into question. Rashford, who won two FA Cups, two League Cups and a Europa League title with United, joined Aston Villa on loan after Amorim said he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all. United issued a statement wishing Rashford well as they announced the deal with Barcelona. "Everyone at Manchester United wishes Marcus good luck for the season," the club said. The forward, who has scored 17 goals for England in 62 appearances, said he was feeling fitter and better after joining Villa, where he netted two goals in 10 league games, while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings. Rashford said he had wanted to move to Barca during the mid-season transfer window when he joined Villa. "I was clear on my preference (to join Barcelona) from the beginning. Actually from maybe in January. It didn't work out in January so I went to Villa and enjoyed a good period there," he said. "It was time to make another decision. My choice was easy. (Barcelona) is a family club, something I'm used to from my past. It feels like home." Barcelona are set to play three pre-season friendlies in Japan and South Korea starting on July 27. ($1 = 0.8511 euros)
France 24
21 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
Marcus Rashford: Tarnished Man Utd star seeks Barcelona redemption
The England winger on Wednesday joined Spanish champions Barcelona on loan in a deal that includes a purchase option, signalling a likely final exit from Old Trafford. Rashford appears to have secured the move he hankered after but there will be no hiding place at the Catalan giants. It was not supposed to be this way. The 27-year-old forward appeared to have the world at his feet when he signed a new five-year contract with United worth a reported £325,000 ($435,000) per week in July 2023. Fresh from scoring 30 goals in the 2022/23 season -- the first time a player had hit that mark for the club since Robin van Persie a decade earlier -- he appeared to be entering his prime. Rashford's approval rating was sky-high on and off the pitch after his role in forcing a British government U-turn over free school meals for disadvantaged children and his fights against racism and homelessness. The Manchester-born forward even featured on the cover of British Vogue in 2020 alongside supermodel turned mental health campaigner Adwoa Aboah as one of "The Faces of Hope". But Rashford clashed with former manager Erik ten Hag and the current boss, Ruben Amorim, and his United career quickly unravelled. Boyhood club The left winger joined United at the age of seven and emerged as a teenage prodigy in 2016, scoring twice on his United debut against Midtjylland and repeating the feat in his maiden Premier League appearance against Arsenal. Aged 18, Rashford became the then youngest England player to score on his debut, against Australia. He has won the Europa League and lifted two FA Cups and two League Cups, scoring 138 goals in 426 appearances for United. But there is a nagging feeling that a player blessed with talent and athletic ability has failed to fulfil his early promise. Rashford has not entirely been to blame for his struggles as a succession of managers deployed him as both a winger and a central striker, denying him the chance grow into one role. And his career has coincided with a decade in which United have lurched from manager to manager, and crisis to crisis, following the glory years under Alex Ferguson. United troubles The roots of Rashford's United exit can be traced back to December 2022. Just back from the World Cup in Qatar on a high after scoring three times, the forward found himself in trouble with Ten Hag after oversleeping and reporting late for a team meeting prior to a match at Wolves. Dropped and chastised by the Dutchman, he came off the bench to score the winner. Rashford was in hot water again in January 2024 after reports he had been seen in nightspots in Northern Ireland -- he missed training after reporting ill and did not feature in the club's 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport. As questions over his work ethic persisted, former United captain Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, warned him to "calm down", saying: "He's going through a dip in form but it can become your personality if you're not careful". But he endured numerous lengthy spells without a goal in Ten Hag's misfiring team. Rashford was left out of England's Euro 2024 squad and responded in limp fashion, managing six Premier League goals last season. A trip to New York, where he was pictured attending an NBA game during the November international break, was interpreted as further evidence that Rashford had lost focus. He scored the first goal of Amorim's reign in November but the Portuguese boss dropped a bombshell when he left him out of the squad for United's win at Manchester City in mid-December, questioning his attitude and work ethic. Days later a disgruntled Rashford said he was "ready for a new challenge" as the relationship soured and he signed for Aston Villa on loan in February. The forward made enough of an impact at Villa Park to earn a recall for England, now under the leadership of Thomas Tuchel. But Amorim has made it clear there is no future for him at Old Trafford. Now Rashford has a chance to reset, knowing he must prove himself all over again at one of the most demanding clubs in the world. © 2025 AFP
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Marcus Rashford‘s Barcelona shirt number confirmed following move
Marcus Rashford has completed a season-long loan move to Barcelona from Manchester United. The England internation will wear the number 14 at Barcelona; the Spanish champions have also secured an option to make the transfer permanent next summer for €30m. This marks Rashford's second loan spell away from Old Trafford, having previously joined Aston Villa in February. The move is seen as a consequence of his limited future under United manager Ruben Amorim, with the club saving around £12m in wages. Barcelona turned to Rashford after their attempts to sign Luis Diaz and Nico Williams were unsuccessful.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Marcus Rashford Transfer LIVE: Manchester United star completes loan move to Barcelona
Hello! Welcome everyone to Mail Sport's live transfer announcement blog for Wednesday night, with Marcus Rashford set to officially be unveiled as a Barcelona player for the first time. It's been a long 12 months for the forward, but he finally looks to have left some of his troubles behind at Man United, and is set for a new chapter in Spain, with the announcement expected at around 5.30pm. Stick with us as we bring you all the latest updates!
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Leaked footage shows shocking state of Barcelona's Nou Camp as club ‘consider delaying new stadium opening'
LEAKED footage of Barcelona's Nou Camp reconstruction project has stunned fans - while the club considers delaying their return yet again. The Blaugrana have been playing at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium since 2023 when work started on their home, the Nou Camp. 9 9 9 But now the club are being forced to consider beginning yet another La Liga season at their makeshift home, according to reports from Diario AS. The club had previously put forward plans to return to their home by November of last year to mark their 125th anniversary. When that deadline was missed, a target for El Clasico on May 10th of this year was made. That date was also quickly blown through, with Barcelona forced to finish the season at their makeshift home. Their most recent revised date of August 10th was once again ruled out, with new leaked footage highlighting how far the ground has to come before it will be usable again. The video shows a dry husk of a pitch area without grass, surrounded by exposed concrete. There are with key features missing such as the dugout furniture. Deeper in the stadium, wiring hangs from ceilings and building materials litter the halls. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Empty concourses are far from finished, and bathrooms seem to have had barely any work done at all. It is hard to imagine the bustling atmosphere amid the colours of the Blaugrana that fans were initially promised would be ready months ago. 9 9 9 9 Man Utd's Marcus Rashford 'may not be able to play for Barcelona due to registration issues' 9 9
