Marcus Rashford: Hansi Flick sets lofty challenge for Man United ace | OneFootball

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has set a challenge for Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford as the Catalan giants enter the business end of the season.

Big opportunity

Rashford’s fortunes have improved since last summer, when he left United and sealed a season-long loan move to Barcelona.

He wasted no time breaking into the first team, which is a far cry from his fall from favour at Old Trafford under the now-sacked Ruben Amorim.

However, over the past few months, Rashford has found starting opportunities hard to come by, due to two main factors: competition for places and fitness issues. The Carrington academy graduate has started just one of Barcelona’s last 10 games.

Barcelona retain the option to make his signing permanent for £26m but it remains unknown whether or not they will exercise it. While there have been suggestions that they are seeking either another loan deal or a renegotiation of his price, United have made it unequivocally clear that they will not budge.

But recent developments could offer Rashford a chance to feature prominently in these final months of the campaign.

Raphinha, who has been keeping him out of the team, injured his right hamstring in Brazil’s defeat to France last week.

The Brazilian is facing up to five weeks on the sidelines as he recovers. In his absence, Flick could resort to Rashford to play on the opposite flank to Lamine Yamal.

Speaking to reporters, Flick challenged Rashford to step up.

Flick’s challenge

The German coach said about the situation, “It’s not the best moment for this injury, for us or for him. He was sad about this and we’re not happy.”

“I talked to him on FaceTime and he was very disappointed, very down, so I decided with Deco that [he could spend time in Brazil].”

“Normally we want the players here, but he’s in good hands and maybe he can clear his mind, come back this weekend and start on Monday. This is why I gave him some days in Brazil with his family, to clear his mind. It was clear for us.”

Flick continued, “I am happy with Marcus because he’s performed well.”

“In the last weeks he had some problems, he was injured, we had to take care about that. It’s a good chance now for him to show again, but we have other options [to replace Raphinha].”

“Fermín [López] can play there; Gavi also can play there. I am happy Gavi is back on this level. We will see. We have more options.”

With good performances, Rashford could make it nearly impossible for Barcelona not to keep him and if they choose not to sign him, put himself in the window

Featured image Alex Caparros via Getty Images

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