Stats show Barcelona star doesn’t need many touches to be decisive | OneFootball

FC Barcelona made two major moves in the summer transfer window. They signed Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol, then brought in Marcus Rashford from Manchester United on loan.

Rashford had endured a torrid 18 months in England, including a semi-decent loan spell at Aston Villa, and came to Barcelona in a bid to resurrect his faltering career. Early signs suggest he has found his footing in Spain.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Rashford has made an excellent start to life at Barcelona, producing 11 goal contributions in 14 matches across all competitions. He has scored six goals and provided five assists, averaging a goal involvement every 87 minutes.

Rashford has capitalised on the team’s injury crisis to secure a regular place in Hansi Flick’s starting lineup. He has also shown that he does not need many touches to make a difference.

In four of his six goals so far, he has required no more than two touches to find the back of the net. Two of those goals came from first-time finishes, two after controlling the ball once, and against Elche, he needed four touches to set himself before firing a powerful strike past the goalkeeper.

One of the defining aspects of Rashford’s game remains his clean and powerful ball striking. When the ball is played into his path, he rarely wastes the opportunity.

His recent goal against Elche demonstrated another side to his play, as he went on the outside and finished with his weaker foot, showing he is not predictable and can vary his attacking approach.

Although Rashford is not the kind of player who maintains the passing rhythm of the team, he thrives in moments that demand speed and precision. When a move requires only a few touches, he becomes a genuine game changer. His ability to make decisive contributions underlines why he is such a dangerous player inside and around the penalty area.

Rashford’s path to success at Barcelona was not immediate. He failed to register a goal or assist in his first three appearances and had a quiet start in matches against Mallorca, Levante, and Rayo Vallecano. However, once he adapted to Flick’s system, his influence began to grow steadily.

Interestingly, his situation mirrors that of Joao Felix last season. Both arrived late in the window on loan, and both were seen as second options after other targets failed to materialise.

Yet Rashford’s output has surpassed that of Felix at the same stage. While the Portuguese attacker averaged a goal contribution every 156 minutes during his early run, Rashford is currently producing one every 87 minutes.

With several key forwards spending time on the sidelines, Rashford has stepped up when Barcelona needed him most. His performances have strengthened his case for a permanent move, although it is still too early for the club to make a final decision. The option to buy is reportedly set at around €30 million.

So far, the Englishman has made a promising start to his Barcelona career. It is still early days, but if he continues in the same vein, the Catalan club will have no hesitation in triggering his buy-out clause at the end of the season.