Barcelona are currently unable to register Marcus Rashford following his loan move from Manchester United due to La Liga’s financial rules.
Marcus Rashford is swapping the Premier League for La Liga as he finalised his loan move from Manchester United to Barcelona earlier this week.
According to Zinny Boswell from Sky Sports News, the Spanish champions are deemed to have spent more money on signings and wages than they made in revenue for the 2024/25 season.
La Liga regulations stipulate that clubs can only spend what they earn, meaning Barcelona must either offload players, reduce their wage bill, or boost revenue in order to accommodate new signings before the end-of-August deadline.
Fortunately for Rashford, Barcelona have a track record of successfully registering their new arrivals in time for the start of the season.
The Catalan giants remain confident that Rashford’s registration will follow suit after securing his loan move. The deal spans an initial 12 months and includes a £30 million option to buy.
Two clauses United have stamped into Rashford’s loan move
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano explained that the Spanish club have agreed to pay 75% of Rashford salary. To help complete the deal, Rashford has accepted a 15% pay cut, meaning that United won’t pay anything towards his wages during the loan spell.
The agreement also includes a performance based clause, which Barcelona will pay based on how many games Rashford plays. However, there will be no loan fee paid to United, as Barcelona are already covering his full salary.
As mentioned beforehand, as part of the deal, there is a buy option clause but Romano details that it’s worth slightly less than other reports, at around £25.3 million, which Barcelona can activate in the summer of 2026 if they want to keep Rashford permanently.
United have also included a second clause, similar to the one in Jadon Sancho’s loan to Chelsea last season. If Barcelona decide not to sign Rashford permanently by summer 2025, they will still owe United a smaller fee, giving the club some financial protection.
Smart deal suits all parties
United have handled Rashford’s loan move to Barcelona smartly, structuring a deal that benefits everyone involved. With few clubs able to afford his wages or transfer fee, United avoided paying any of his salary and included clauses to protect their financial interests.
The move also gives Rashford a fresh start at a top club, while United can focus on rebuilding under Ruben Amorim without distractions. If Rashford shines, Barcelona can buy him outright. If not, United still earn a small fee.
Rashford’s previous loan to Aston Villa was a success, helping him regain form and confidence. That spell made this Barcelona move possible and proved he can still deliver at a high level.
In a tough market, United have secured the best outcome clearing wages, protecting value, and giving Rashford a platform to perform at his desired club.
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