Marcus Rashford has reportedly moved on from Manchester United, with Barcelona planning to exercise their £26million buy option at the end of the season.
The England international left his boyhood club on loan last summer to join Barcelona after falling out with former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, who placed the forward in his ‘bomb squad’ and exiled his from the first team.
Since moving to the Spanish giants, Rashford has revived his career with a string of superb performances, chalking up 22 goal contributions in 32 games and winning his place back in the England squad under Thomas Tuchel.
With United’s new interim manager Michael Carrick now at the helm and having restored a feel-good factor at Old Trafford after three successive wins, many fans have speculated whether Rashford would give his career at the club another chance when his loan deal expires at the end of the season.
But according to Spanish newspaper Marca, Rashford has moved on from Old Trafford and wants to commit his future to the Catalan club.
Manchester United and Barcelona agreed a £26m purchase option in Rashford’s loan deal, leaving the Red Devils powerless to prevent the forward from completing a permanent move to the Nou Camp should the Spanish giants activate the clause.
Marcus Rashford has moved on from Manchester United according to reports in Spain
It is understood Michael Carrick will have a hard time convincing Rashford to return to Old Trafford after his loan expires, with Barcelona eager to exercise their £26m purchase option
After first staying at a luxurious Gran Melia hotel Rashford has now put down roots in Catalonia
Barcelona, who have been entrenched in an ongoing financial crisis and have been forced to pull a series of economic levers in the transfer window over the past few seasons, are keen to trigger the £26m buy option according to the Spanish outlet.
In December, Rashford opened up to the BBC about his new life in Barcelona: ‘It’s been amazing. I feel welcome, I feel at home. I’ve just been enjoying every step of the way.
‘Learning the language and stuff like that, learning the culture, it’s all enjoyable for me. It’s something I wanted to do for a long time and this is the perfect opportunity.
‘I’m understanding more now, and the speaking side of it, it’s more just confidence to do it in front of a group.’
Initially greeted with a stay at the five-star Gran Melia Torre Melina, where a President one-bed suite can cost up to £3,233 per night, Rashford has since put down roots in the city after moving into an apartment in the upmarket district of Esplugues de Llobregat.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Colleserola mountains, the commune on the outskirts of the city has played host to scores of Barcelona icons, including Gerard Pique and Andre Iniesta.
It was reported last week that Carrick is eager to keep Rashford at Manchester United when his loan deal expires on June 30, provided he gets the permanent job.
Carrick continued his excellent start as interim boss with a dramatic late 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday, having guided the Red Devils to victories against Manchester City and Arsenal in his first two games in charge.
