Marcus Rashford Thrives in Barcelona After Loan from Manchester United
Marcus Rashford has had an impressive start to his loan stint at Barcelona, having transferred from Manchester United for the season. Former captain Roy Keane may find himself reconsidering his critical views on the move.
Keane expressed skepticism regarding Rashford’s potential at Barcelona. After being sidelined by Ruben Amorim upon the Portuguese coach’s arrival at Old Trafford last November, Rashford spent the end of last season on loan at Aston Villa.
Upon returning to United and finding himself still unwanted, the 27-year-old sought an exit, ultimately securing a season-long loan to Barcelona, where he hopes to re-establish himself in La Liga under coach Hansi Flick.
Keane had voiced doubts about Rashford’s ability to adapt to a new league and environment. While discussing transfers on the Stick to Football podcast in August, he questioned whether Rashford possessed the necessary football intelligence to succeed in such a challenging setting.
Although Keane acknowledged Rashford’s talent, he noted the winger’s reduced effectiveness in recent years, particularly in utilizing his speed. Counterpoints were raised by Gary Neville, who suggested that Barcelona’s control over matches could play to Rashford’s strengths.
Despite Keane’s initial misgivings, he may need to reconsider, as Rashford has begun to excel at his new club, making Keane’s critical remarks seem misplaced. Reports indicate Barcelona is interested in negotiating a lower fee to secure Rashford long-term, potentially waiving Manchester United’s £26.2 million clause.
Since joining Barcelona, Rashford has recorded three goals and five assists across all competitions, helping his team secure second place in the La Liga standings. He looks to continue his strong performance against Girona on October 18.
