Marcus Rashford has looked like his old self again at Barcelona as he impresses in anticipation of a permanent move away from Manchester United.
Hansi Flick has utilised Marcus Rashford heavily this season after his big loan move from Manchester United, and Rashford has certainly stood up to the challenge.
Following another impressive performance in a 2-1 win against Girona, Rashford’s versatility in this strong Barcelona side cannot be questioned. Primarily playing on the left, the Englishman’s direct play style has excited the Catalan side’s fans and earned him consistent starts in Spain.
The United loanee has positioned himself as a standout player for Barcelona, recording five goals and four assists in 12 games, including two superb braces in the Champions League against Newcastle United and Olympiacos so far this season.
United have a known history of letting players go, only for them to continue to play much better. Recent examples include Antony at Real Betis and Rasmus Hojlund, who have started in electric form for Real Betis and Napoli, respectively.
Rashford surrounded by high-quality players
Rashford has the pleasure of playing alongside some of the best players in Europe, including Ballon d’Or nominees Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal. He is in an environment where he lives and breathes perfection, yet it’s Rashford who is topping the leaderboards for goal contributions.
The pressure of La Liga seems to be much more enjoyable for Rashford as his role in Barca permits him the freedom to express himself on the pitch without the watchful eye of so many pundits.
The United Academy product faced significant criticism during his time at Old Trafford in recent years, often unfairly, despite all his hard work both on and off the pitch.
Rashford has been able to put that behind him this season and perform to an impressive standard all across the frontline.
Tuchel trusts in Rashford for England
Since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England head coach, Rashford has become more of a feature in the squads, especially with there being question marks over the names in that left winger position.
Rashford’s competition includes the likes of Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze, both of whom continue to impress in the Premier League.
Barca coach Hansi Flick has been very open about Rashford’s versatility, saying, “Marcus can be a No. 9 or a No. 11. When we think of him, we value the fact that he can play in more than one position.”
This has proven to be a crucial part of Flick’s coaching style with players like Ferran Torres, Raphinha and Dani Olmo playing in multiple roles across the front line as well. Alongside the high volume of games, being able to rotate players is a key factor to Barcelona’s performances this season.
Rashford’s future at United is highly doubtful. Still, his continuous performances in Spain are solidifying his chances of securing a long-term future in Barcelona colours, which would bank United around £26 million next summer.
No doubt, if he can stay at this high standard, there should be a seat with his name on it for England’s World Cup journey in 2026.
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