Man United ‘Hoping’ to Reach £26m Agreement for Forward | OneFootball

Marcus Rashford’s Barcelona Revival Could Be Manchester United’s Gain

Rashford Thrives Under Hansi Flick

Marcus Rashford’s career renaissance is in full flow at Barcelona, and it is Manchester United who might ultimately be the biggest winners. TEAMtalk have detailed how Rashford’s loan spell is reminding Europe of his quality, capped by a superb brace against Newcastle in the Champions League at St. James’ Park.

Barca boss Hansi Flick was full of praise for his summer recruit, saying, “When we got this chance, it was ok, we have to do it. I spoke with him before everything went the right way. I said: ‘I want to have you in my team’. For me, he’s an outstanding player.”

Flick highlighted how Barcelona’s midfield, with Pedri and Frenkie De Jong controlling possession, creates the ideal platform for Rashford to exploit space. “His speed, his control with the ball and his finishing is unbelievable,” Flick added.

Rashford himself made his ambitions clear, stating, “As many [seasons] as possible. We will see. I have to focus on trying to do my job and trying to help the team in whichever way I can.”

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Financial Implications for Manchester United

While Rashford’s resurgence could be seen as an embarrassment for United, the situation could work out in their favour. TEAMtalk emphasised, “The better Rashford performs, the more likely Barcelona are to activate their option to buy. And as a homegrown player, the proceeds from Rashford’s sale will be logged as pure profit on Man Utd’s books.”

That clause, worth £26m, combined with the removal of Rashford’s hefty salary, could provide United with significant financial flexibility heading into 2026. The club is already eyeing major midfield reinforcements, with Brighton’s Carlos Baleba reported to be their top target and valued at £115m.

No Way Back for Rashford

Rashford was one of several high-profile players moved on last summer, with Ruben Amorim and the board keen to reset the wage bill and refresh the squad. TEAMtalk have reported there is “understood to be no way back for Rashford at Old Trafford,” even if he were to rediscover his peak form in England.

The arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have given United fresh attacking options, leaving Rashford surplus to requirements. His success in Spain mirrors the fortunes of other United departures, with Anthony Elanga thriving away from Old Trafford and Scott McTominay crowned Serie A’s most valuable player with Napoli.

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Strategic Move for a Rebuild

The Rashford situation symbolises Manchester United’s wider strategy under INEOS. Moving on academy graduates at the right time, and turning their sales into pure profit, is part of the modern financial playbook. For a club that needs to strengthen in key positions, particularly central midfield, Rashford’s success could become the catalyst for a new chapter at Old Trafford.

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For Manchester United fans, Rashford shining at Barcelona is bittersweet. He is one of our own and it is hard not to feel proud watching him score goals at one of the world’s biggest clubs. At the same time, many will argue that he was given plenty of chances at Old Trafford and never consistently delivered at the level expected.

Financially, selling Rashford for a £26m fee and freeing up a massive salary makes a lot of sense. Fans have been calling for the club to be smarter in the transfer market, and this feels like a step in that direction. If his sale funds a player like Carlos Baleba or another top midfielder, it could be a turning point for the squad.

The key question is whether United have learned the right lessons. They cannot keep selling players who thrive elsewhere without building a team capable of doing the same. For now, United supporters can enjoy watching Rashford excel in Spain, knowing that his goals could be funding the next wave of Old Trafford investment.