Marcus Rashford has been sent a stern warning by England legend Chris Waddle that Barcelona could send him back to Manchester United despite his impressive statistics. The English forward, who joined Barca on loan after being exiled by United boss Ruben Amorim, has made an impressive start to life under Hansi Flick, yet Waddle insists the 27-year-old is still on trial.
Rashford shining at Barcelona
It’s been a rollercoaster year for Rashford. Once the poster boy of United’s revival under Erik ten Hag, he found himself out in the cold after a collapse in form. He had a fallout with Amorim and ended up being dumped into United’s so-called 'bomb squad' during pre-season. His loan to Barcelona has offered him a lifeline – in just 13 appearances, the Englishman has chalked up five goals and seven assists, including a brilliant brace in the 6-1 demolition of Olympiacos in the Champions League. The stats are promising, and the performances have been mostly solid. But Waddle believes that his current level might not be enough to convince a club that has made ruthless calls on bigger names.
AdvertisementGettyWaddle's ruthless warning to Rashford
Speaking to , who offer the best football odds, Waddle said: "This season will be crucial for Rashford. He cannot afford to be inconsistent; he must perform exceptionally in every game as if it's a cup final to secure a deal with Barcelona. This is complicated by the transfer fees involved and his current lucrative contract, which Barcelona may be unwilling to pay.
“The club might be thinking, ‘We're paying his wages, but we've saved a considerable amount on a transfer fee for a season.’ If he performs exceptionally, scoring 20 goals and consistently earning man of the match, Barcelona would have no choice but to sign him. However, his current performances are merely OK, not unbelievable. As the season progresses, it's essentially a trial period for him."
Barcelona, still recovering from years of financial turmoil, have spent the last two seasons cutting costs and offloading high earners. Rashford’s lucrative contract at United, which runs until 2028, remains one of the most substantial in the Premier League. And Waddle believes the financial side could become Rashford’s biggest stumbling block.
"A major hurdle in any potential signing could be the player's wages," he said. "Barcelona may not be willing to match Rashford’s current salary, creating a stumbling block as they typically don't pay that level of compensation. Barcelona is linked with many available players. It remains to be seen if they have another target for the left-wing or centre-forward positions, or someone else lined up for the summer. He's attempting to secure a contract from a club that is interested but not fully committed. They might send him back if they have another player in mind. Most top players will quickly move to clubs like Real Madrid or Barcelona, so Barcelona could have alternative plans.”
Rashford wants Barcelona stay
Despite the uncertainty, Rashford has made no secret of his affection for life in Catalonia. The forward, visibly more relaxed than during his final months in Manchester, spoke openly about his experience in a recent interview with Barcelona’s YouTube channel.
"I’m really enjoying my time in Spain," he began. "The weather is the best part. It’s a very big change. I’m learning every day, I’m really enjoying it. I hope to be here for a long time. I get along really well with Roony (Bardghji), as well as Jules (Kounde) and Frenkie (De Jong). It’s a team where we all blend together. We’re united. The team is fantastic. I just have to be in the right position. I’ll keep trying to do this. We have to keep going like this to be our best. We have a lot more to do this season."
He added: "I’m enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game so to play here is an honour. I just believe that things happen when they’re supposed to happen. It’s not the first time I spoke with Barcelona about potentially coming here, but for whatever reasons it didn’t happen in the past, and now is my opportunity to make it happen. I feel like there’s no time like the present now.
"People forget this, but 23 years of my life was with Manchester United. So sometimes you just need a change. I think maybe this is the case with me and yeah, I’m enjoying everything. I don’t feel there is much change in me, I just feel it’s a new environment and culture and one I looked forward to coming here. It’s just about me adapting and fitting in as well as possible. I’m so hungry to keep improving."
Getty Images SportClash at the Bernabeu: Reality check for Rashford
Rashford’s newfound momentum met a stumbling block at the Bernabeu as he was unable to prevent Barcelona from slipping to a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, although the England international did provide the assist for his side's only goal. Next up for Rashford and Barca is a clash against Elche on November 2, where the forward will be desperate to prove that the Madrid setback was just a blip.