Marcus Rashford: How Manchester United Cleared Path to Camp Nou

Marcus Rashford's first Barcelona training.

Marcus Rashford: How Manchester United Cleared Path to Camp Nou

Festus Chuma 11:36 - 21.07.2025

The England forward Marcus Rashford has arrived in Spain to complete a season-long loan move from Manchester United to Barcelona.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has touched down in Spain to finalize a sensational season-long loan move to La Liga giants Barcelona.

The 27-year-old England international arrived in Catalonia late Sunday night on a private jet, as social media buzzed with images of his arrival at El Prat Airport.

Sources close to the deal confirmed that Manchester United granted Rashford permission to travel and complete the final stages of the transfer after both clubs agreed in principle over the weekend.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

The move will initially be a 12-month loan with an option for Barcelona to make the switch permanent next summer.

Talks between the clubs escalated rapidly in the past week, with Rashford reportedly eager to join the Spanish side ever since declaring in December that he was open to a fresh challenge.

His relationship with current United boss Ruben Amorim has been strained, especially after the Portuguese coach dropped him from the starting XI in multiple key matches last season.

Rashford’s journey to Barcelona comes after a six-month loan spell at Aston Villa in the second half of last season, where he made 14 appearances and scored four goals.

The Villa move, though productive, seemed more like a stopgap, with Rashford’s long-term ambitions always pointing toward a move abroad.

Barcelona Move Gains Momentum as Medical Looms

The next critical step will be Rashford’s medical examination, which is scheduled to take place early this week at Barcelona’s training facility. If cleared, the forward is expected to be included in the club’s pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea, which kicks off later this week.

Ruben Amorim and Marcus Rashford| IMAGO

Barcelona faces K League side FC Seoul on July 31, a fixture that could see Rashford reunite with former United teammate Jesse Lingard. Now 32, Lingard is in his second season in the K League and is likely to line up against the Catalan club in what could be an emotionally charged encounter for both players.

Rashford’s preference for a move to the Camp Nou was reportedly driven by a desire to play in a more fluid attacking system and to work under Xavi Hernandez, whose attacking philosophy has impressed the England international. United, meanwhile, appear to be reshaping their squad under Amorim, who is targeting younger, high-press forwards.

This loan move offers Rashford a chance to reboot his career after a challenging 18 months at Old Trafford. Despite flashes of brilliance, consistency has eluded him, and his future at United became increasingly uncertain under Amorim’s tactical vision.

United Clears Path for Rashford’s Next Chapter

The Premier League club’s decision to allow Rashford to leave — just weeks before the start of the new campaign — is seen by insiders as a mutual parting of ways, with both player and club accepting that a clean slate was necessary.

Rashford is still under contract with United until 2026, but the inclusion of a purchase option signals the club’s openness to a permanent departure.

Barcelona, facing their own attacking depth issues after losing Ferran Torres to injury, view Rashford as a versatile forward who can provide immediate impact in domestic and European competition.

Should the move be finalized in time, Rashford could don the Blaugrana shirt for the first time as early as Thursday, when the squad departs for Asia.