Romano: Man Utd and Euro giants ready to ‘find a way’ to finalise £26m deal for 21 G/A star

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·29 January 2026

Romano: Man Utd and Euro giants ready to ‘find a way’ to finalise £26m deal for 21 G/A star

Although the forward has fallen slightly out of favour in recent weeks, Barcelona fully intend to activate Marcus Rashford’s buy option.

Since returning from a brief, one-game absence towards the end of November, the on-loan Manchester United star has started only three times in eight La Liga matches and was an unused substitute for their most recent win over Real Oviedo.

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How is Rashford faring in the UCL?

(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

In Europe, Rashford has been utilised off the bench for Barcelona’s last four Champions League fixtures, despite returning the most goal contributions of any player in Hansi Flick’s squad for the first phase of the competition.

He came on in the 72nd minute last night as the Blaugrana rounded off their qualification with a 4-1 win over Copenhagen, with the 28-year-old once again finding the back of the net – but this time in tremendous fashion.

Rashford scored a superb free-kick to mark Barcelona’s first in the UCL since Lionel Messi’s against Liverpool in 2019, rubber-stamping the Catalan giants’ fifth-placed finish in the overall standings.

He’ll be hoping that his efforts see him restored to Flick’s starting XI for Saturday’s clash with Elche, after which the side have a Copa del Rey quarter-final against Albacete to prepare for on Tuesday, February 3.

*Rashford in all competitions this term (Transfermarkt)

Barcelona still set on buying Rashford from United

(Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Even though the club’s world-class attacking depth has forced Rashford to adapt to not being a guaranteed starter, all parties are still keen on a permanent deal materialising.

Fabrizio Romano said of the situation on Wednesday: “So Barcelona’s intention, as they already communicated at the beginning of the year, is to find a way to keep Rashford. At the moment, there’s still nothing communicated with Man United.

“Barcelona haven’t told them they will pay the buy option. They’ll try to talk to Man United later this year to try and negotiate and find a solution for Rashford. But what’s also true is that Marcus Rashford and Barcelona are very happy together. They will find a way. Let’s see financially what happens with Man United, but the intention from Barcelona is to keep Marcus Rashford at the club.

“The conversation is going to continue.”