Marcus Rashford has made a strong start to his time at Barcelona, but the club’s sporting director has ruled out the possibility of activating his buy option in January. The team secured an exciting 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday, with Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat-trick. Although Rashford did not find the back of the net, he played a key role by providing two assists for the Polish striker. Lamine Yamal also contributed to the win, adding to the team’s momentum.
This win has brought Barcelona within three points of the league leaders, Real Madrid, and Rashford is proving to be a crucial part of a squad that is competing strongly in both La Liga and the Champions League. The England forward is currently on a one-year loan deal from Manchester United, with Barcelona holding a buy option worth approximately £30 million.
While both the player and his current club are interested in making the move permanent, it is likely that the decision will have to wait until the end of the season rather than being finalized in January. Deco, who is not the club’s sporting director, has expressed his view on the matter, stating that there is no need to rush the process if things continue to go well.
Key Points from Deco
On the possibility of making Rashford’s move permanent in January, Deco said:
‘If we are doing well and there are no surprises, I don’t think it’s necessary.
We know exactly where we can improve and the difficulties we face. Last season, we also went through some difficult moments and we were able to overcome them.
When we lower the intensity, we suffer. We need to have the best players. There are no excuses, but when you can’t make changes because of injuries and they affect our midfield. There are things to improve even when we win.’
According to Spanish publication SPORT, discussions are already underway regarding Rashford staying at Barcelona beyond his loan period. However, there are still several steps to take before the deal is finalized. The transfer fee is not an issue, as it has already been agreed upon, but Rashford will need to accept a pay cut to remain with the Catalan giants permanently. His £300,000-a-week contract with Manchester United is more than what Barcelona can afford, so he is expected to sign a longer-term deal with reduced wages.
The 28-year-old has made it clear that he would prefer to stay with Barcelona. He told ESPN last month:
‘For sure. I’m enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game. For a player it is an honour.’
Despite his impressive performances with the iconic Spanish club, there has been little indication that Rashford might return to play for Manchester United again. Manager Ruben Amorim has shown little interest in bringing him back into the fold.
Rashford shared a post on Instagram after the win:
‘Important three points away 🔵🔴 We keep working TEAM 💪🏾.’
