Latest news with #JoanLaporta
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Marcus Rashford looks like a man reborn after leaving Man United for Barcelona... this opening chapter to his new life in Spain could scarcely have gone better, writes NATHAN SALT
As the black Mercedes people carrier carrying Marcus Rashford and his entourage turned the corner towards the offices at the Camp Nou, a crowd of giddy youngsters suddenly sprung into life. Some had already started live streaming on social media, others begged parents to go on their shoulders for a better look. One brave child even decided to climb the fence to get a prime view of Rashford walking into the stadium. Out he stepped in a tailored black suit - the decision to forgo a tie was a wise one in the muggy 27-degree heat - with a smile as big as it has been for some time. He waved to the fans clamouring for autographs before heading inside to meet Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Marcus Mania, to coin the chaos, was alive and well. Around by the club shop another large crowd had formed, most eager to catch a glimpse of a player and a man that has caused great fascination in recent days. Mail Sport had to fight through the crowd to make it in. Inside the shop a flurry of Rashford shirts were being hastily unpacked by workers and there was a frantic search for spare hangers. Papers such as Mundo Deportivo ran a story explaining the meaning behind Rashford's tattoos, other outlets discussed his bold fashion. Very few who lined the streets outside the Camp Nou cared one iota about him being cast aside by Manchester United. In fact the only similarity to Manchester for much of this ceremonial affair was the weather. Of course it had to rain on Rashford's big day. But what was apparent throughout a long day of interviews, announcements and autograph signings was that Rashford is happy and healthy. As he stood on the top floor of the club shop to face up to the Spanish press for the first team, photographers sprawled across the floor and a dozen-plus cameras broadcasting his every word, Rashford looked content, confident even, that his recent down years at United do not define him. 'The situation with [Manchester] United - the club is in a period of change and they have been for a while,' he said. 'I don't have anything bad to say about Man United. It's been an important part of not only my career but my life, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to play for them. 'But football is the same as life, and not everything goes as simple as you may think. 'This is my next step, my next chapter, and I'm fully focused on this and trying to improve myself and help the team win trophies. 'I don't have anything to say about United, I hope they are successful in the future. I'm focused here and I'm ready to play and experience this club.' And that was that for questions on Manchester United. A classy response to a saga that was on the precipice of turning ugly after being bombed out by Ruben Amorim and put into a 'bomb squad' group that were told they could only arrive at Carrington to train after he and the first team had gone home. 'I'm in a good place,' he added. He looked it too. No inkling of resentment. No suggestion of revenge. He smiled, laughed on occasion, and simply looked like a man at peace with the ups and downs of a whirlwind career that can be traced all the way back to his senior United debut in February 2016. Stood in the wings was his mum Melanie, brothers Dane and Dwaine, as well as some other agents and intermediaries. They all lit up in unison as he spoke. On the wall that Rashford was facing as he coolly took on a flurry of questions about his motivations, his early impressions of the city and the team, and his conversations with boss Hansi Flick, was a collage of the great Johan Cruyff. It was his No 14 shirt that Rashford chose, not the No 19 once worn by Lionel Messi and the number Rashford was once owner of at Manchester United. 'It's a traditional number for the club and it's a unique club,' he added. 'Everything about the club is special and to wear this shirt is an honour.' This is the third time Barcelona have tried to sign Rashford. They tried first in 2019 and now, six years later, the pair are together. It's a place, as Rashford put it, where 'dreams come true'. 'I want to win the biggest trophies and I feel like Barcelona is a huge club in the football world so it's the perfect place to go and win the biggest trophies. 'You saw last season they have a very young team ambitious team and I want to come and add my qualities and personality and try to improve the team.' Rashford had barely broken sweat, which was impressive given the near 30-degree temperatures all day in a suit, before he was ushered out the door ahead of a customary dinner with Barcelona's top executives in a high-end restaurant. Once upon a time his dream as a young kid growing up in Wythenshawe was to pull on the shirt of Manchester United. Rashford got to live that dream. Now, at 27, it's time to realise another. For the first time in a long time Rashford looked like that kid that was dreaming of playing football, the one who was climbing the fence to catch even the smallest glimpse. Dreams change and new stories are continuously written. As for an opening chapter of life in Barcelona, this one couldn't have gone much better.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
⚖️Negreira case: Luis Enrique, Valverde and Laporta to give evidence
The anti-corruption prosecutor's office requested that Joan Laporta, the current president of Barcelona, Luis Enrique, and Ernesto Valverde, former coaches, provide clarification. The Public Ministry asks them to clarify the "reason for the payments" made by the Barça team to the "shell companies" of José María Enríquez Negreira. In the case of the tactical heads, they must explain whether they received reports on the match referees prepared by Negreira's son. And, obviously, if these had "real effectiveness in the planning of the matches." This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 David Ramos - 2023 Getty Images
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Marcus Rashford leaves Man United on loan to seal dream move to Barcelona
Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan for the season as he has left Manchester United for the second time in 2025. The Spanish champions have an option to buy Rashford next summer for €30m with the forward unlikely to have a future at Old Trafford as long as Ruben Amorim remains United manager. Rashford signed his contract in front of Barcelona president Joan Laporta but it remains to be seen when the Catalan club will be able to register him in their La Liga squad. United are expected to save around £12m in wages, with Rashford among the best-paid players at Old Trafford. However, they have had to loan him out for a second successive transfer window, after he joined Aston Villa in February, and they are yet to recoup a transfer fee for him, while they have spent up to £133m on new forwards in this transfer window. Rashford, who had talked about wanting to play alongside Lamine Yamal, has got the move he wanted while Barcelona sporting director Deco and manager Hansi Flick had both spoken in public about their interest in him. But Barcelona also made an approach for Luis Diaz, which Liverpool rebuffed, and came close to signing Nico Williams, who instead he chose to sign a new contract at Athletic Bilbao, before turning back to Rashford. United had claimed that he, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia had asked to leave as they were not allowed to train with Ruben Amorim's first team in pre-season. Rashford has scored 138 goals in 426 games for United but did not feature in their final 13 games before he signed for Villa, being omitted from the squad for 12 of them. He scored four times in 17 games on loan for Villa, who did not take up their option to buy him for £40m.
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Barcelona confirm Marcus Rashford loan from Manchester United with buy option
Barcelona have signed Marcus Rashford on a season's loan from Manchester United with an option to buy. The forward joins after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim at his boyhood club. 'The player have signed his contract as a Barça player this afternoon in at a private meeting in the presence of the FC Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, the director of the football area, and other board members,' Barcelona said in a statement. More details soon …
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Report – Reason for the delay in Barcelona announcing Marcus Rashford signing
Marcus Rashford landed in Spain on Sunday night, completed his medicals successfully with FC Barcelona on Monday and even signed his contract and trained with his new teammates on Tuesday. However, his signing from Manchester United has yet to be officially announced by the Blaugrana, with the confirmation expected to arrive later today. Reason for the delays On Tuesday, videos emerged of Rashford shooting material on the club's training ground for the official announcement and presentation of his signing, but the actual confirmation never arrived. Now, according to Gerard Romero, the reason for Barcelona holding off on announcing the signing of Rashford is because of two documents that are yet to be finalised, due to the British bureaucracy. The hope is that the situation will be sorted today as Barça plan to present Rashford as their new signing at 6 pm in the evening. Waiting for the announcement. (Photo by) As reported previously, the 27-year-old Englishman will sign his contract in the private offices of club president Joan Laporta, in the presence of his family and agents. Once that is done, Rashford is expected to appear at the Camp Nou Barça store, where he will pose with the jerseys and speak to the media, before he enjoys dinner with the president and executives. Rashford will be joining on a season-long loan deal with Barcelona retaining a €30 million purchase option for 2026. The Catalans will also cover the entirety of the 27-year-old forward's wages, although he has taken a significant pay cut to facilitate the transfer.
