Barcelona have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United on a season-long loan for the 2025-26 campaign, with an option to buy of £26m next summer.
The Englishman has supposedly completed his medical in Spain, and the La Liga giants are now waiting to generate funds - either through player sales, wage cuts or increasing their revenue streams - before registering the forward, with the deadline set for the end of August.
For Barcelona, the opportunity to add an experienced and versatile attacker with world class ability is an exciting prospect, while for Rashford, the move could represent a crucial career reboot in a foreign league, away from the intense scrutiny of the English media.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at what Rashford could bring to Hansi Flick's Barcelona in the 2025-26 season.
Rediscovering Rashford's Best
Rashford's move to Barcelona has been criticized with people claiming the Englishman is underserving of such a move, but there is no doubt that the forward has the ability to be one of the very best in world football - something he has shown at moments throughout his career, but many have seem to forgotten.
Between 2019-20 and 2022-23, Rashford recorded over 30 goal contributions in three of the four seasons - scoring 22 and assisting eight in 2019-20, 21 goals and 12 assists in 2020-21 and 30 goals and nine assists in 2022-23 - while he only struggled in 2021-22 with five goals and two assists.
The forward has failed to reach those heights in the last two seasons, which has drawn significant criticism, but Rashford has still managed 13 goal contributions in 2023-24 and 19 contributions - 11 goals and eight assists - in 2024-25, just six fewer than Bukayo Saka in four appearances more than the Arsenal star, and four more than Anthony Gordon in one game less than the Newcastle United winger.
Given Rashford certainly has been at far from his best in that time, his still strong output shows the world-class potential and ability that the Englishman possesses, and the forward will be hoping to find that spark once again with a move to Spain, away from the English media - returning to the minimum 30 goal contributions a season of his past.
A fresh flair on the left wing
Rashford has consistently played as a left-winger throughout his career, at both Manchester United and even during his six-month spell at Aston Villa last season, and the Englishman would provide Barcelona with a new profile on that side.
Raphinha was undoubtedly one of the best performing players in the world in 2024-25, scoring 34 and assisting 22 in 57 appearances across all competitions - leaving him as one of the frontrunners for the Ballon d'Or - but as a left-footed winger who has often scored from the back post or by going around the outside of his opposing full-back, the Brazilian contrasts to Rashford's style and strengths.
Rashford shares the pace and direct dribbling style of Raphinha, making him a perfect fit for Barcelona's high-octane attacking system, but the Englishman prefers sizing up his full-back before racing down the line to cross or coming inside on his favoured right-foot and striking at goal.
The ability to rotate these contrasting left-wingers would not only help ease Raphinha's workload, but also give Flick the tactical flexibility to vary attacking approaches down the left flank, giving opposition defences a new challenge to deal with and providing a new way to shift momentum in matches.
A dynamic danger upfront
Alongside often featuring from the left wing, Rashford has also appeared numerous times as a lone striker - something he has even stated he particularly enjoys - and the Englishman would provide Barcelona with a fresh, dynamic option upfront.
Robert Lewandowski, one of modern football's greatest strikers, enjoyed his best individual season since joining Barcelona in 2022 last term, scoring a staggering 42 goals and providing three assists in 52 appearances across all competitions.
However, at 36 years old, even Lewandowski’s time at the top level is winding down, and a younger, more dynamic Rashford - qualities the Polish striker lacks - could provide an ideal rotational option, and if the buy clause is triggered, then he could even serve as Lewandowski's successor.
While Rashford struggles with his back to goal and dropping deep to help link up play, and is certainly a less clinical finisher than Lewandowski, the Englishman's fearsome pace would give Barcelona the option of playing a completely different attacking style.
Rashford's ability to stretch opposition defences with runs in behind could help create more space for the likes of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Pedri and several others to get on the ball and flex their creative muscles, while teams may be scared of pressing Barcelona high up the pitch due to the Englishman's transitional threat.