Marcus Rashford is the main target for the Catalan club’s sporting directors to strengthen the team in this winter transfer window. Both Flick and Deco see that the team needs one more attacking player for the end of the season, especially if there is an injury. The Manchester United player fits in very well because he can play both as a centre-forward and on the wing.
The problem, as always in all the club’s recent transfer markets, is money. Barcelona currently do not have the financial fair play to sign the player. The renewals of Araujo, already announced, and that of Pedri, closed but not official, give a little margin in the wage bill, Gavi’s does not generate fair play, but not enough for the Briton to come. And the problem they face, now that it is already certain that Eric Garcia is staying, is that Ansu Fati still has no intention of leaving Barcelona.
Rashford bets on Barcelona
Rashford wants to play for Barcelona. He sees it as an excellent opportunity in his career given his situation in Manchester, although for the moment he will only be on loan until the end of the season because Barcelona will not sign him. His relations with Amorim are at an all-time low and you only have to look at what the United coach said on Sunday. It’s clear that he doesn’t look like he’s going to play much with him.
Distancing from Amorim
“It’s always the same reason. Training. The way I see a footballer should act. In life. It’s every day, every detail. If things don’t change, I won’t change. On the bench you can see that we lack a bit of rhythm, but I would put Vital (goalkeeping coach) ahead of a player who doesn’t give his best every day,” said Amorim.
A high card
So the striker will have to do his part if he wants to join Barcelona and that means lowering his salary so that he can fit into the little Fair Play that the club has. Rashford earns a lot of money at United. His annual salary is around 18 million euros gross per season. In other words, Barcelona would have to make room for nine million, half of his salary when he arrives in January, and that is not possible. The player is aware of this situation and is willing to take a pay cut. Barca already knows this. It remains to be seen to what extent he will reduce his salary.
Market close
There is not much time left. The transfer window closes on February 3. Everything suggests that it will be a last-minute deal. Barcelona is not the only club that has shown interest in the player, but it is true that he gives priority to the Catalan club. And at Barca they are waiting for Ansu to change his mind and finally decide to leave. Flick’s messages are clear because he does not play him in any game. He did not even give him minutes on Sunday when it was a perfect game to do so because of the great advantage they had on the scoreboard.