Barcelona icon advises club to retain Rashford: ‘It would be very good for them to keep him’ | OneFootball

Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic believes Marcus Rashford would be an excellent player for the club to retain, despite uncertainty surrounding the English forward’s future.

Rashford began the 2026 World Cup in impressive fashion with England, continuing the form he displayed during his loan spell at Barcelona.

Having scored several important goals for the Catalan side during the closing stages of the season, including a memorable free-kick against Real Madrid, the 28-year-old carried that momentum into the World Cup by finding the net against Croatia.

Rakitic backs Rashford

Speaking to DAZN after the game, Rakitic praised Rashford and suggested that Barcelona would benefit from keeping him.

“It would be very good for Barça to keep Rashford… we’ll see,” the Croatian said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

Rakitic believes Barcelona should keep Rashford. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

His comments came despite Barcelona already strengthening their attacking options with the signing of Anthony Gordon, who started for England against Croatia before being replaced by Rashford during the second half.

Future still unresolved

Rashford remains under contract with Manchester United until June 2028, but his long-term future is still unclear.

Barcelona previously held an agreement that would have allowed them to sign the forward permanently for a fixed fee of €30 million. However, that option expired on 15 June without being activated.

Despite this setback, Rashford has not given up hope of returning to Barcelona.

The club’s priorities in the transfer market have shifted in recent months, with the arrival of Gordon and the signing of a new centre-forward taking precedence.

Barcelona remains his preferred destination

Although disappointed by Barcelona’s decision not to exercise the purchase option and instead move for Gordon, Rashford is said to remain highly interested in continuing his career in Catalonia.

What does the future hold for Rashford? (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images for Rexona)

The England international understands the club’s position and is aware that there are currently no guarantees regarding a return. Nevertheless, Barcelona remains his preferred destination.

At the same time, Rashford is becoming increasingly realistic about the situation. If an attractive offer arrives before the transfer window closes, he may decide not to wait indefinitely for Barcelona and instead pursue another opportunity that offers greater certainty.

For now, Rashford’s future remains open. His strong performances for both Barcelona and England have ensured that interest in him remains high.

Meanwhile, Endorsements from respected former players such as Rakitić continue to strengthen the argument that he could still have a role to play at Camp Nou.

Whether Barcelona ultimately return for him or Rashford chooses a different path may depend on how the market develops over the coming weeks.