Marcus Rashford, 27, has made a strong impression at Barcelona following his summer 2025 loan move from Manchester United, with an option to buy for £30 million. Under manager Hansi Flick, Rashford has been deployed as a central striker, filling in for Robert Lewandowski, and scored his first goal for the club in a pre-season friendly against Daegu FC on August 4, 2025. However, his participation in the 2025/26 La Liga season, starting August 16, is uncertain due to Barcelona’s ongoing financial difficulties and La Liga’s strict Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
Barcelona’s well-documented financial struggles have hindered their ability to register new signings, including Rashford and fellow summer arrival Dani Olmo. While Olmo’s registration was secured through a regulatory loophole involving long-term injury designations, Rashford’s status remains unresolved. The club’s failure to register Nico Williams earlier this summer, confirmed by La Liga president Javier Tebas as due to FFP constraints, highlights the ongoing challenge. Barcelona’s recent dispute with captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who refused to allow his back surgery medical report to be used for FFP relief, has further complicated matters, limiting salary cap space for registering Rashford and others like Joan Garcia and Roony Bardghji.
Rashford, who scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for Manchester United but struggled last season, including a January 2025 loan to Aston Villa, joined Barcelona to revive his career under Flick’s project. Despite his promising pre-season, posts on X suggest fan frustration, with some blaming the club’s financial mismanagement and others hopeful for a resolution before the transfer window closes on September 1, 2025. Without swift action to secure funds or leverage another loophole, Rashford’s La Liga debut could be delayed, potentially keeping him sidelined until January 2026.
Source: African Publicity