Now We Will See The Real Marcus Rashford At Barcelona

Marcus Rashford first debuted in Manchester United’s number 10 during a 2018 preseason friendly against Bayern Munich.

Although it does not have the same status as the number 7 shirt at the club, worn by George Best, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo, the jersey still holds significance.

A diehard fan, Rashford knew this well, writing on social media after the game: “Wearing the shirt worn by United legends, honoured.”

One of the previous owners of the number, Wayne Rooney, who’d had the jersey for over a decade, could be found in the comments.

“It suits you mate,” the Liverpudlian added.

His manager at the time, Jose Mourinho, explained that Rashford had decided to take the number 10 shirt.

“He wanted it,” Mourinho told MUTV.

“He always wanted it. Of course, he respected the big Rooney and then Zlatan [Ibrahimovic]

wanted to have it. Of course, he was in the shadow, waiting for the opportunity and now the shirt is empty.

“It’s something fantastic for the kid, let’s give the shirt to him.”

In the seven seasons that followed, there were moments when Rashford looked capable of living up to expectations.

The problem is that they remained just that, moments; he has never consistently delivered.

Last season was the final straw for the one-club man. Coach Ruben Amorim publicly humiliated him before a loan move to Aston Villa for the final half of the campaign.

Upon returning to Manchester, it was no secret he was one of five players pushed into a so-called ‘bomb squad’ of exiles ostracised from the squad to push them closer to the exit door.

So it was not exactly surprising to see new signing Matheus Cunha handed Rashford’s number 10 shirt ahead of the new campaign.

More of a shock is the Mancunian’s next destination. Having impressed at Aston Villa last year, he has caught the eyes of one of Europe’s biggest sides, Barcelona, and is on his way to Catalunya to play with Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski.

Former Manchester United players have not greeted the news of the move well, as they were unhappy with his behavior before leaving the club.

“If you assess where Marcus Rashford is at as a professional footballer, you strive as a youngster to get to the very top and play for clubs like Manchester United, and when you’re there, you appreciate it,” ex-United player, Teddy Sheringham, told Sky Bet.

“You don’t throw it away and say you want to leave.

“I find the whole episode very soul-destroying, compared to the way I was back in the day and how I strove to get the privilege to play for such a huge football club.

“To hear someone talking the way he is talking, saying he wants out – I didn’t like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doing that at Arsenal, I thought it was soul-destroying, and I hope Rashford doesn’t get the move that he’s hankering for.

“From my perspective, if you go from Manchester United to Barcelona, that’s a step up that he hasn’t deserved.”

Rashford has been handed a move to one of Europe’s elite because the Catalans have some hefty financial challenges.

Despite a significant uptick in form last season, Barcelona remains a club struggling to balance the books.

The decision to prioritise contract renewals for young players ahead of flashy summer signings is sensible.

However, it does mean the club has to be more innovative in recruiting to fill the gaps in the squad.

Hiring a player like Rashford on a loan de-risks what would have been an expensive bet on a talent that might not deliver.

No one thinks the Mancunian will arrive in Spain as anything other than a backup option for a squad already well-stocked in the forward roles.

His six-month spell at Aston Villa last season was impressive, but it’s hard to see him landing another big move if this one goes wrong.

Rashford’s problem is that, despite turning 28 in October, the withering assessment made by his former coach Jose Mourinho about him having ‘potential’ but not established ability still rings true.

“He is potentially a very good player,” the Portuguese manager said.

“He’s a very good player in some models of play, he’s a very good player in some positions. As a target man, as a number nine, I don’t think he has the sort of goals that the top striker has.

“For me, he can’t get better as a number nine. He can get better playing from the left side, playing with another one as a target man but for him to be the target man in matches where United are dominant and playing against defensive teams and low blocks, I think it’s difficult for him.”

At Barcelona, Rashford might find more opportunities playing through the middle, and it will be fascinating to watch whether he can establish himself. One thing is sure: It’s now or never.