Marcus Rashford’s hopes of securing a high-profile summer move to Barcelona have been handed a major boost, with new reports revealing manager Hansi Flick’s admiration for the England international.
Currently enjoying a strong spell on loan at Aston Villa—who hold a £40m option to buy—the Manchester United forward has been linked with a move to Barcelona, which is believed to be his preferred destination.
This week, Rashford aligned himself with influential agent Pini Zahavi, who has close ties to both Barcelona president Joan Laporta and new manager Flick. According to Fernando Polo, the journalist who broke the story of Rashford’s link with Zahavi, Flick has long admired the 27-year-old and even approved a potential move for him back in January.
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While Rashford was reportedly hesitant to leave the Premier League earlier in the year, Flick remains keen on bringing him to Camp Nou, and Zahavi has reportedly told Barça officials that a deal is within reach—should they decide to act.
Manchester United are open to selling Rashford permanently this summer, but may entertain a loan with a compulsory purchase clause next year—Barcelona’s preferred structure. While the original £40m price tag matched Villa’s option to buy, United could push for as much as £60m if a deal with the Midlands club collapses.
Barcelona, dealing with financial constraints, may find even the £40m fee difficult to meet, though Rashford is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to facilitate the move.
