It is a remarkably low figure for a player of Rashford’s ability, although his £325,000-a-week wages, amid Barcelona’s ongoing financial pressures, must also be factored in. They did not pay a loan fee but are covering Rashford’s salary, although there is some debate as to whether he actually took a cut to make the move happen. Even so, he is not near being one of Barcelona’s highest earners.
The expected departure of 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski, when his contract runs out in June, will help on the budget, although Barcelona will probably sign another centre-forward.
So far there has been no official communication between Barcelona and United over Rashford, but that is not causing any anxiety. Barcelona can, and will, wait, although Flick’s words, after Rashford scored on Wednesday evening to help secure their place in the top eight of the Champions League, have been interpreted as him making it clear again to the club how much he wants the 28-year-old. Barcelona are expected to make an offer.
“Speed, finishing, control. He has amazing quality, really,” said the German who pushed Barcelona to sign Rashford in the first place, having long tracked his career, and has told the player he wants them to agree a longer-term deal.
The fact that Rashford came off the bench, and was not a starter, in that tie against Copenhagen was also telling. Flick is big on squad rotation and not having a settled XI and Rashford – along with what is pointedly described by one source as a “very good, very together dressing room that is pulling in the same direction” – has bought into that.
Rashford came on and scored a free-kick as Barcelona turned around a 1-0 deficit at the Camp Nou to win 4-1 (David Beckham is the only other Englishman to score direct from a free-kick for two Champions League teams).
