- Marcus Rashford helps seal La Liga title for Barcelona
- Blaugrana still undecided over triggering option to buy
- Former legend urges Barca to buy Manchester United forward
Manchester United loanee and FC Barcelona star Marcus Rashford scored a stunning free kick on Sunday night (10 May) that secured the La Liga title for his side.
What made it all so sweeter was that it was against their rivals Real Madrid, in the El Clásico derby. Rashford has been feeling at home in Catalonia this season, perhaps none more so than after his teammates mobbed him in the 8th minute of the game.
The goal only adds to his case of wanting to become a Barcelona player permanently. Yet, his current employers are still reserved about triggering the option to buy at the end of the season.
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Former Legend Pleas with Barcelona to Buy Rashford
According to Diario AS, Ronald Koeman has urged his former side to buy Rashford from Manchester United.
The 63-year-old played for the Culers between 1989 and 1995, later managing them during the 2020/21 season. He thinks that the La Liga champions will ‘regret it enormously’ if they do not acquire Rashford this summer.
He said: “If Barcelona let him return to Manchester United after this loan, I think they will regret it enormously. Because £26m in the current market for a player with these characteristics, these numbers, this experience.. that’s a steal.”
Barcelona have failed to publicly disclose whether they will trigger the option to buy. Earlier in the season, reports suggested that the club were attempting to drive down the price with United. However, the Reds refused to be flexible on their terms, which they believe are fair. Hansi Flick’s side also enquired about a second loan deal, which makes little sense for United to send him on loan for a third successive time.
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Barca’s Regret could be United’s Gain
Barcelona’s refusal to meet even a modest asking price for a seasoned international could ultimately play into Michael Carrick’s hands. It is widely expected that the 44-year-old will be handed the permanent managerial role this summer. Having worked with Marcus Rashford previously, he remains an admirer of the forward.
Rashford’s astronomical wages make a transfer difficult without Manchester United accepting a significantly lower fee. However, any sale would represent pure profit on the balance sheets as he is an academy graduate.
In any scenario, Rashford’s excellent spell in Spain has increased his value, much to the delight of United officials. Despite being part of Ruben Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ last summer, he has found a new lease of life. It makes it difficult to believe that Barcelona would pass on a permanent deal.
In the absence of stars like Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, Rashford has stepped out of the shadows to help secure a league title for the Catalan giants. As Ronald Koeman noted, there will be plenty of regret next season if they fail to finalise a deal for a player of his calibre. It will be a rare chance missed in today’s inflated market.
