One of the main transfer questions of the season has been settled in Spanish football: Barcelona will not be buying Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. According to SPORT, the Catalan club’s management and head coach Hansi Flick agreed that the deal amount and the player’s salary were excessive for the club.
Rashford spent the season on loan at Barcelona, where, under the terms of the agreement, the Spaniards had the option to buy his contract for £26 million. However, attempts to lower the price in negotiations with Manchester United were unsuccessful. Despite early indications of readiness to activate the buyout option, the club reconsidered and rejected the costly transfer.
Loss of place and shifting priorities
At the start of the season, Rashford confidently earned his spot in the lineup, but by the end of the championship he lost his place in the starting XI: only two starts in the last eight La Liga matches. Over the season, the Englishman played 44 games, scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists. However, according to SPORT, the decision not to buy the player is almost final — the club is already looking for alternatives at striker at a more affordable price.
What awaits Rashford and Manchester United
Now Manchester United must decide what to do with the 28-year-old forward. There are two options: bring him back into the main squad for the 2026/27 season, or look for a new club for a sale or loan. According to sources, Rashford himself is aware of the situation, and his agents are already working on possible next steps for his career. His contract with Manchester United runs until 2028, and the player does not rule out a return to the English club.
Context and club reaction
Manchester United’s management, according to SPORT, does not plan to bring Rashford back to the team, even if the coaching staff remains unchanged. Last season, the player was already loaned out to Aston Villa, where he scored four goals and provided sixteen assists in 17 matches. His contribution at Barcelona was less consistent, which also influenced the club’s decision.
At the beginning of the month, Hansi Flick publicly stated that he was satisfied with Rashford’s work, but refrained from commenting on the player’s future, emphasizing that the team is currently focused on finishing the season.
