Rashford has confirmed his intention to make a permanent move to Barcelona, aiming to impress Ansu Fati! He stated that staying too long at Manchester United caused stagnation.

The 27-year-old English star Marcus Rashford has confirmed his wish to transfer permanently to Barcelona once his loan period concludes. This season, Manchester United loaned him out for free to the reigning La Liga champions for one year, with a €30 million purchase option available next summer.

During an ESPN interview, Rashford acknowledged that spending nearly his entire career at Manchester United led him to become too comfortable, creating a strong need for change. Joining Barcelona represents that change, forcing him to always give his best and compete fiercely for playing time with his teammates.

In this new environment, Rashford has had to adapt, and he started strongly — appearing in 12 matches across all competitions, scoring 5 goals, providing 4 assists, and winning 2 penalties. In the Champions League, Rashford is tied with Mbappé as the top contributor to goals.

The British Daily Mirror reported that Barcelona's key player Ansu Fati strongly supports the club signing Rashford, and now the entire team appreciates this former Manchester United academy player whom they once doubted.

“As soon as Ansu (Fati) heard Barcelona was interested in Rashford, he said, ‘Sign him! Sign him!’” revealed Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. “Ansu has played against Rashford in video games and said he’s incredible, extremely fast. Now at Barcelona, everyone likes him.”

Although Rashford’s contract with Manchester United runs until 2028, with an option for a further year, he has clearly expressed his intention to continue playing for Barcelona. Rumors suggest the England international is willing to take a significant pay cut; his £325,000 weekly wage at United is unlikely to be matched at Barcelona.

“Yes, absolutely!” Rashford responded without hesitation when asked if he wants to stay at Barcelona permanently. “I’m really enjoying being at this club, and I believe Barcelona is one of the most important clubs in football history for anyone who loves the game. Playing for Barça is an honor for any player.”

He added, “I hope to stay here for a long time! I’m really enjoying my time in Spain; the weather is fantastic. It’s a big change, but I’m learning every day and truly enjoying it. I get along well with Rooney (Baldé), Jules (Koundé), and Frenkie (de Jong). We have a close-knit team, united as one. The team is great, so I just need to be in the right place. I’ll keep working hard, and we must stay at our best — there’s still a lot to achieve this season.”

Rashford last played for Manchester United in December 2024 and is unlikely to wear the Red Devils jersey again, especially if Ruben Amorim remains coach, as their relationship has deteriorated completely. Rashford admitted that spending his entire career at United contributed to some of the challenges he faced.

“I’ve been in one place for so many years. People forget this, but from age 23 to 24, I was at Manchester United,” Rashford explained. “Sometimes you just need a change. I think that’s my situation. Yes, I’m really enjoying everything now. The change isn’t huge, but the new environment and culture are what I looked forward to with Barcelona. What I need to do is adapt and integrate as much as possible, and I’m eager to keep improving.”

Rashford revealed he is also working hard to learn Spanish. “I’ve watched a lot of Barcelona matches, especially in recent years. I always felt this team suits me if I were to transfer. I know it’s a big change, but it doesn’t feel that big. I think I’ve integrated well with the squad, though I can’t fully speak Spanish yet, so I’m still learning, which helps with fitting in.”

Rashford confirmed that this summer was not his first attempt to join Barcelona, nor will it likely be the last, as he and his agent brother still need to discuss a permanent transfer with Barcelona executives next year. “I just believe things will happen when they’re meant to happen,” Rashford philosophically added. “This isn’t my first time discussing a move to Barça, but for whatever reason, it didn’t happen before. Now is my chance to make it real.”

Barcelona rarely buys players on loan permanently, but Rashford is confident he can convince his current club through his performances. “I feel this is the right time, so I just have to live each day well. For me, the key is continuous improvement. When you retire, you’ll miss everything about football — the good and the bad. Every day, I just try to get better than the day before.”

Manchester United fans know that if Rashford maintained the right attitude and full commitment like when he debuted, he could have achieved more at Old Trafford. However, inconsistent performances and off-field distractions often prevented him from becoming a superstar. Now, fans can only wish him well in reinventing himself at Barcelona and hope his permanent transfer brings United a pure profit from the deal.