Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has had a slow start to life during his loan spell with Barcelona and the Red Devils know exactly where they stand when it comes to recalling him
Marcus Rashford is set to return to England this week – but it won’t be with Manchester United. The England star has been named in the Barcelona squad set to take on Newcastle at St James’ Park in the Champions League.
Rashford, 27, will certainly be keen on having a say given his slow start to life with the Spanish giants thus far. In his four appearances for the Catalans, he has yet to find the back of the net.
Rashford has already scored five career goals against Newcastle – and chalked up a further four assists – so will be confident of finally opening his Barcelona account. Should he find some form, that might make the decision to let him leave to look very silly.
But can Ruben Amorim even bring him back to Old Trafford even if he wanted to? Manchester Evening News investigates…
What are the terms of the deal?
Thankfully, Barcelona confirmed exactly on which terms they had managed to sign Rashford. The Spanish side agreed a season-long loan deal with their United colleagues that includes a €30m (£26m) option to buy once the season ends.
Some reports had suggested that the Catalans would be forced to pay a €5m (£4.3m) penalty fee should they choose not to sign him permanently. But The Athletic have confirmed that is not the case.
Can he be recalled?
Neither United nor Barcelona have confirmed that there is a break clause or recall clause in the deal.
The Sun, however, have suggested that the deal does not allow the Red Devils to recall the forward back to Old Trafford.
Usually, those sort of clauses can only be activated in January anyway so it might be a waiting game until then either way.
It was recently reported that Barcelona were already considering sending the forward back to Old Trafford, with club chiefs less than inspired by his performances so far, but that was swiftly denied.
What has Amorim said?
The Man United boss has not publicly spoken out on Rashford’s time in Spain, albeit he made his stance very clear on the forward’s future under his watch: he doesn’t have one.
Speaking after Rashford’s previous loan move to Aston Villa, he said: “I couldn’t get Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it.
“Sometimes you have one player that is really good with one coach, and the same player with another coach is different.”
What has Flick said?
While Amorim doesn’t appear to be a big fan, the same is certainly not true of Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, who has been singing Rashford’s praises ahead of the trip to Newcastle.
He said: “I think I have to look a little bit back because I have really followed Marcus since he started at Manchester and I always said: ‘Wow! What kind of player he is, he is unbelievable’.
“He has speed but also in a one-against-one situation, he’s really fantastic and also his finishing, it’s unbelievable.
“What I saw in the first weeks here, it’s really good and I think he also some more potential he can show us and of course he wants to do this. For me, it’s great to have in in my team.”
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2025-09-18 12:16:29
