Credit: Imago

Pranav Shahaney

Thu 29 May 2025 9:10, UK

Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford moved to Aston Villa on loan in January and is now linked with a move to Barcelona.

The England international has impressed at Villa Park and managed to get his career back on track.

At Old Trafford, he cut a frustrated figure and even started to lose the support of the fanbase, but he’s done wonders under Unai Emery.

Rashford to accept pay cut to force Barcelona move

According to Sport (29 May), the 27-year-old is extremely keen on moving to the Camp Nou this summer.

He’s even willing to take a pay cut in order to join Barcelona, given their issues with FFP.

The deal is understood to be complicated, but the chances of it happening now are higher than they were earlier.

United may also be asked to cough up a small percentage of the salary to facilitate the move.

While Villa are keen on signing Rashford, his preference is Barcelona and he’s not willing to consider any other options at this stage.

Aston Villa need to move on from the Rashford chase

Villa’s potential move for Rashford makes little sense given his ambitions and the club’s current standing.

Rashford prefers a move to Barcelona, drawn by their prestige and consistent Champions League football.

Aston Villa, despite their promising 2024/25 season under Unai Emery, finished outside the top five, unable to offer Champions League competition, a key factor for Rashford’s career aspirations.

Signing him represents a financial risk for Villa, who already stretched their budget last summer.

Rashford’s wages further complicate matters, potentially disrupting the Villa Park outfit’s wage structure.

With Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey providing attacking depth, and young talents like Morgan Rogers emerging, Villa’s resources are better allocated to players committed to their long-term project.

Pursuing Rashford, whose heart seems set on Barcelona, risks a costly misstep for a club focused on sustainable growth.