After being sidelined at United since late 2024, Rashford spent the latter half of last season at Aston Villa before finalizing his long-awaited move to the Catalan giants. ..Continue Reading
Barcelona have agreed to pay Rashford’s full salary during his season-long loan, with a reported purchase clause of just £26 million at the end of the deal.
At his official presentation at the Nou Camp, the England international spoke highly of the club and is now set to join Hansi Flick’s title-winning squad, which includes stars like Lamine Yamal and Pedri.
The attacking lineup promises excitement, especially with Yamal aiming to reinforce his reputation as one of the brightest young talents in global football, having only recently turned 18.
Yamal already boasts two La Liga championships, a European Championship, and a Copa del Rey triumph in his growing list of achievements.
Across 127 senior matches for club and country, he’s recorded 31 goals and 45 assists, and his standout performances in the 2024/25 season have placed him firmly in the running for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
He’s reportedly locked in a close contest for the award, especially as Real Madrid and Manchester City’s Champions League exits have limited their players’ chances of claiming the honor.
Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain is currently the frontrunner to succeed Rodri as Ballon d’Or winner, with Yamal considered his strongest rival.
Dembélé’s contributions to PSG’s Champions League victory and their Club World Cup final appearance have bolstered his case, while Yamal’s domestic and international titles make him a serious contender.
In a recent appearance on the XBuyers YouTube channel, Rashford weighed in on the Ballon d’Or debate, stating that if pure talent were the deciding factor, Yamal would win it without question.
“It depends on how you look at it. Just off footballing ability, I think he [Yamal] has to win,” Rashford said, before his Barcelona move came about.
“But then if you look at Dembele in the Champions League, of course he can win. Depends how you see it. I would not be disappointed if either of them won it.”
Rashford heaped more praise on Yamal, saying he is playing at a level no other teenager has ever produced. “It is difficult to put into words because he is not supposed to be doing that at 16, 17 years old,” he said. “He is playing at the highest level at 16. I do not think we have seen this before.”
Asked whether he would like to play with Yamal, perhaps knowing the Barcelona move was a possibility, Rashford said at the time: “Yeah, for sure. Everybody in the world wants to play with the best, you know. So, hopefully, we will see.”
