Deco hails rejuvenated Marcus Rashford after Manchester United “suffering” | OneFootball

Barcelona sporting director Deco has praised Marcus Rashford’s (28) revival in Spain, suggesting the forward is flourishing again after navigating a turbulent period at Manchester United.

Rashford, who joined Barcelona on loan last summer, has rediscovered consistency and confidence during his spell at the Nou Camp. The Catalan club hold an option to make the move permanent for around £28m, a figure which now looks increasingly attractive given the 28-year-old’s resurgence.

“Marcus is a fantastic player,” Deco told Times Sport. “Rashford is happy with us. He suffered a bit with this change of generation at United. It’s not easy. When you are an important player, you have a lot of responsibility.”

Rashford’s struggles at Old Trafford in recent seasons have been well documented, with United undergoing repeated attempts to rebuild the squad amid fluctuating form and managerial upheaval. Deco believes those circumstances placed an unfair burden on Rashford at a defining stage of his career.

“If you look at United over the last five years, they had difficulties rebuilding the team, to become stronger again. He was there throughout that period, and people demanded a lot from him,” he added.

For Barcelona, Rashford’s revival has offered both a timely attacking lift and evidence that the England international can still thrive at the highest level when surrounded by stability and clarity. The decision over his long-term future now looms, but for the first time in years, it appears to be one framed by optimism rather than uncertainty.

GFN | Finn Entwistle