Barcelona hope for cut-prize Rashford deal

Barcelona reportedly want to try and reduce the £26m million purchase option on Marcus Rashford. The 28-year-old has spent the 2025/26 season on loan in Spain this season and has rediscovered his form.

Rashford has scored 10 goals and assisted 13, including nine goal contributions in eight Champions League games. His form in La Liga has resulted in him returning to the England squad, with Thomas Tuchel expected to take him to the World Cup.

Barcelona have the option to sign the forward for no more than £26million, a clause that was struck between the two clubs when the loan move was agreed. However, a number of reports have suggested his permanent switch isn’t that straightforward.

Reports in Spain at the start of the year had suggested that Barca were unwilling to meet the agreed price and would attempt to lower the fee or negotiate another loan move, with an obligation to buy. It was then claimed that they would, in fact, trigger the clause and sign the United loanee permanently.

But now Sport is reporting that a key meeting took place between Deco and Arturo Canales, agent of Rashford, on Monday, to begin preparing the ground for negotiations with Manchester United ahead of the summer.

Any hope of decreasing the amount United receive is incredibly low. The Mirror reported recently that the club have been left regretting the deal to allow the academy product to leave for just £26m.

It’s understood that United bosses believe the England international’s value is now closer to £50m, with several other clubs interested in his services this summer. But Rashford’s preference to secure a permanent move to Barcelona means they could use that to their advantage to lower the price.

“I don’t see anything here as like a pressure,” he told BBC Sport in December. “It’s just, I’m here to play football. It’s been amazing. I feel welcome, I feel at home. I’ve just been enjoying every step of the way.”