English forward Marcus Rashford is gradually winning the recognition of Barcelona's senior management with his excellent performances this season. Reports indicate that his possibility of staying at Barça is currently higher than leaving.
The 28-year-old Rashford joined Barça on loan from Manchester United last summer. So far this season, he has made 23 appearances in all competitions, contributing 7 goals and 9 assists, with impressive statistics and on-field influence. Reports point out that during Raphinha's nearly two-month absence due to a muscle injury, Rashford's consistent performances have helped the team maintain competitiveness to a certain extent, which has satisfied head coach Hansi Flick and the club's technical department.
From a tactical perspective, Barça highly values Rashford's versatile positional attributes. He can play as both left and right winger, and also act as a center forward, providing Flick with more options for forward rotation and dealing with injuries. In addition, Rashford has the characteristics of strong penetrating ability, excellent speed and explosiveness. He can pose a threat to the opponent's defense both in positional battles and counterattacks, and also has long-range shooting and set-piece abilities, which are particularly important when facing tight defenses.
In the organizational end, Rashford's crossing and key pass accuracy are also recognized. He has provided 9 assists this season, reflecting his dual value in offensive finishing and creating opportunities. The club internally also believes that his presence has increased the intensity of internal competition in the forward line, which has a positive impact on the overall offensive end.
Based on the above factors, Barça's sports department currently prefers to activate his €30 million buyout clause next summer. However, the final decision will still depend on his performance in the second half of the season, especially how Rashford responds to changes in playing time after Raphinha returns and regains his starting position, which remains to be seen.
Reports state that Rashford was not Barça's first choice to strengthen the left winger position this summer. The club originally preferred to sign Luis Díaz, who was then playing for Liverpool, but due to financial constraints, the relevant operation could not be advanced. Díaz later transferred to Bayern Munich for €75 million. In contrast, Rashford was regarded as a more cost-effective option and joined on a loan with a buyout clause.
Currently, Rashford's contract with Manchester United runs until 2028, and United head coach Rúben Amorim has no intention of including him in the 2026-27 season plan for the time being. In the next few months, Barça will further evaluate the English forward's future based on his competitive performance and the club's financial situation.
